Judith Ann Ford

Judith Ann Ford October 12, 1938 - November 5, 2022 Leavenworth, Washington Judith Ann Ford, age 84, died, surrounded by her family at her home in Leavenworth, Washington, on November 5th, 2022, due to rapid onset and spread of stage four squamous-cell cancer in her kidney and lungs. Judith was born on Columbus Day, October 12th, 1938, at Seattle General Hospital to Chester and Eloise Vorheis. She graduated in 1956 from Lincoln High School in Seattle and married her high school sweetheart, Thornton Ford, in March of 1957, while a student at the University of Washington. Judith and Thorn met and fell in love in a church youth fellowship group and that experience remained a permanent part of their life together. She served as a team with her husband as high school youth leaders for over forty years at every church they attended until their time at Inglewood Presbyterian. Then they retired from youth work and served as a Senior Presenting Couple and officers for Presbyterian Engaged Encounter. Judith and her husband founded Thorn Ford Dental Laboratory in 1977, in Bothell, WA. Her organist fingers flew on a ten-key calculator and her husband's on dental prosthetics. The family business grew and is now owned and operated by her son, Loren and daughter-in-law, Margarete. Judith loved being a church musician. She learned the piano keyboard as a child and by the time she was in junior high school, she was the accompanist for the hymn singing of the Baptist Youth Fellowship at Oak Lake Baptist Church in Seattle. She took up the organ and became an accomplished choir accompanist and director while a member of Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren in Seattle. She continued as an assistant organist and increased her skills at Plymouth First Baptist Church in Plymouth, Michigan. Returning from Michigan, Judith again resumed her organist at Olympic View Church. When she and her husband moved from Olympic View Church in Seattle to Inglewood Presbyterian Church in Kirkland, Washington, Judith was called to form and direct a children's choir. It was an immediate success. She also was called to become an officer and board member of the Washington Chapter of Chorister's Guild, where she served several years. She was called upon for her skills at the organ at Inglewood Church and being a member of the American Guild of Organists, was often called as substitute organist by church of various denominations in the greater Seattle area. Judith is especially remembered as the classy, elegant lady who filled the room with joy and tangible love. Judith is survived by her husband Thornton Ford of Leavenworth, WA, children Noral Ford and his wife Susan of Livonia, MI, Loren Ford and his wife Margarete of Leavenworth, WA, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna, and grandson Aaron. A Memorial Service will be held on December 10, 2022, at 1:00 pm located at the Inglewood Presbyterian Church in Kirkland, WA. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.