Obituary of Harlan P. Ford

Harlan P. Ford Longtime Orting resident Harlan P. Ford, born July 27, 1914, passed away quietly on Thursday, March 27, 2008 with his wife of 73 years at his side. They met while teaching school (K-12) in adjacent counties in South Dakota in the mid 1930s. Harlan concluded that life would be much better with Ethel in his life and in May O36 they became Mr. & Mrs. Ford. A couple years later they visited relatives in Washington State with their oldest kids Ted & Charlotte and discovered the land of milk and honey. After a few jobs in Tacoma, they settled on Frank Johnson's property (Calistoga Place) and milked cows there till 1971. Mom taught school in Orting and Dad rode the bus to the Tacoma shipyards along with many other Orting residents to help the War effort and supplement income. Their younger sons Gene & Dick were born shortly after the war. Dad is preceded in death by his parents Mason & Sylvia Ford, children Ted & Charlotte Sweet, brother Virgil, cousins Dean Morris, Art Ashcraft, Ray Fromgen. Dad is survived by his loving wife Ethel, son Gene (Jeanette) & Dick (Barbara), Emma Ford, Jerry Sweet (Gailwyn), 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren & 3 great-great grandchildren and longtime friends and mentors Wayne & Beth Harman. The legacy we think Dad would like to be remembered was his love of the community. He was an integral part of the Orting United Methodist Church, Master of The Crocker Grange many times and Master of the Orting Valley Masons. Harlan also served on the city planning commission and city council. Services will be held at Orting Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 4th. Contributions, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Orting United Methodist Church.