Tupelo
Funeral Home
W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors
Visitation
11 a.m.- 2 p.m, Feb 4, at the Jefferson Street Chapel
Service
2 p.m. Friday February 4, 2022 at the Jefferson Street Chapel
Obituary
Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on January 31, 2022, and moved on to his heavenly home. LTC(Ret), Ronald Edwin “Ron” Ford, age 60, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard who had served within the 223rd Engineer Battalion and worked full-time at Camp McCain Training Site, has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, this country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Obituary, visitation and service details:
Ronald Edwin “Ron” Ford went to his heavenly home on Monday, January 31, 2022 at the North Mississippi Medical Center after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was 60 years old. Ron was born in Homestead, Florida on May 3, 1961 to Murl Ford and Holly Stone Ford. He grew up in the Lee County area and graduated from Tupelo High School. He then earned a degree from Mississippi State University. In 1983, Ron married his high school sweetheart, Lisa Paslay, and they enjoyed 37 years of marriage. Ron proudly served his country in the Army Nation Guard, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He retired from the Guard after 28 years, spending 17 month in Iraq during the Iraq War. He also worked several years for Hancock Fabrics. He was an avid deer hunter and always enjoyed supporting his beloved MSU Bulldogs. However, the greatest joy of his life was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Ron “fought the good fight” in life as he did as a soldier. Ron leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Lisa Paslay Ford of Saltillo; two daughters,Mallory Ford Smith (Caleb) of Clayton, Georgia and Morgan Ford Nance (Josh) of Waverly Hall, Georgia; grandchildren, Parker, Keeley Marie, and Jase Smith and Knox, Nola, and Nate Nance; a sister, Michelle Wascomb (Greg) of Oak Ridge, North Carolina; his father, Murl Ford of Tupelo; his mother, Holly Ford of Tremont; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hollis and Marie Stone and Lila and Ed Ford.
A celebration of Ron’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday February 4, 2022 at the Jefferson Street Chapel with Bro. Bo Jeffares officiating. Sanford Bennett and Creig Corbett will deliver a eulogy. Music will be provided by Caleb Smith. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until service time Friday at W.E. Pegues, Tupelo. Burial with military honors will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Mike McCullough, Brad Miller, Bill Calhoun, Greg Wascomb, Josh Nance, Steve Martinelli, Ken O’Connor, Jay Navy, and Lea Paslay. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Fandel, Kurt Roberts, Dwight Hill, Doug Gentry, Mark Rutledge, Mike Herman, Paslay Adkins, Corbett Rutland, Patton Hayes, Clayton Speck, Parker Smith, and Knox Nance. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Ron’s memory at www.givenow.lls.org.