Walter Reid Ford, 92, passed away on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. He was born in Forest City, NC to Katie Ford and Brice Mills, Sr.

He served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant in the Korean War and retired from the NC National Guard Army 120th Infantry B Battery after over 25 years of service to our county. Mr. Ford worked for Sealy Mattress for over 30 years until he retired. He worked various other jobs, including Morrison-Studevent Funeral Home and Papa John's Pizza, working until he turned 85 years of age. He was a former member of Files Chapel Baptist Church. In 1985 he founded Ford-Griffin VFW Post #7500 in Lexington where he was a lifetime member and he organized the VFW Post #7500 Ladies Auxiliary in 1988. He also was a member of the American Legion Banks Miller Post #255 in Lexington.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Katie Ford; his father, Brice Mills, Sr; his first wife, Cleola Pompey Ford; his brothers, William Ford, Brice "Trigg" Mills and Edgar Mills; his sisters, Thelma Harris and Wilma Wilbert; his son, Rudolph (Joanie) Pompey; step son, Herbert (Rena) Mason and a great-great-great grandson, Kawanis "KJ" Owens.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Lucille Vaughters Ford of the home; two daughters, Barbara Ford Willis of Hopkins, SC and Vera Ford of Lexington; three step sons: Gilmer (Michelle) Mason of Thomasville, Jimmy Mason of Mocksville and Ricky (Cynthia) Mason of Salisbury; 18 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.