Joseph Patrick Ford, Sr.

Joseph Patrick Ford, Sr.
Joseph Patrick Ford, Sr., 84, of Hartwell, Ga., died peacefully on December 5, 2020, after a long battle with melanoma, surrounded by his loving family. Devoted husband and father, devout Catholic, proud U.S. Marine, accomplished businessman, talented basketball coach, revered mentor, and enthusiastic fan of University of Georgia football and UCONN women's basketball - Joe leaves a legacy of deep passions and loyalties.  
Joe was born on April 6, 1936 and grew up in Sea Cliff, N.Y. He graduated from Springfield College in 1958 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Joe married Carol Ann Gilmore in 1959 and served on active duty until 1961. After leaving the Marine Corps, they returned to Long Island, N.Y. where Joe worked as a physical education teacher and basketball coach for Syosset and Clark High Schools.
In 1969 Joe was hired at the U.S. Naval Academy as Assistant Head Coach of the men's basketball team; in 1971 he was named Head Basketball Coach at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.  In 1974 Joe was recruited to join Herff Jones, the educational and motivational products company, where he served in sales and management. When Joe retired in 2002, he had managed the east coast from Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire to Florida and west to Mississippi and Louisiana. Joe the only manager to be elected to the Herff Jones Sales Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in his death by his parents, Lewis and Winifred Ford; his brother, Lewis Ford; and sisters, Mary Margaret McAuliffe and Winifred Ford Moore and brother-in-law, Dr. James Moore. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Carol Ann Ford; his son, Joseph Patrick Ford, Jr. and his wife, Cece, of Auburn, Ga.; and his daughters Kathleen Patricia Winkler and her husband, William, of Venice, Fla.; and Maureen Patricia Cragin and her husband, Charles, of Santa Fe, N.M.; and brother-in-law, John McAuliffe, of East Norwich, N.Y. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Joseph Patrick Ford III, Elizabeth Ashton Ford, Margaret Carol Winkler, and Colette Patrice Winkler as well as many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great grandchildren.
Because of the current conditions concerning the health and well-being of our community, the family will not be having a formal visitation. They ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks. A memorial service celebrating Joe's life will be held at a later date at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
A special thanks to his oncologist, Dr. John Doster, the staff at AnMed Health Cancer Center, the staff at Encompass, and Joe's primary care physician, Dr. Anthony Lau, for their loving and attentive care of Joe and for our family during this difficult period. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church Building Fund and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter.
The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.stricklandfh.com.