Rev. James S. Ford Phd., age 77, of Minerva died Monday, April 18, 2011 in the Great Trail Care Center in Minerva. He was born Aug. 25, 1933 in White Hall, IL to Howard and Blanche (Bell) Ford. He had worked for TRW in Minerva and retired from Canton Drop Forge where he was a Draftsman. His life long passion was his ministry. He graduated from Malone University and received his doctorate in Theology from Liberty University. He was the minister at Victory Baptist Church in Kensington and the Marilyn Ave. Baptist Church in Canton and was the Editor of the Faith Ministry Newsletter. He wrote and published two books on religion.

He is preceded in death by his wife Joan (Lanning) Ford who died in 2010, two sisters, Lucille Collins and Fredline Westerfield; two brothers, Rochester "Rocky" Ford and Coyner T. Ford.

He is survived by three daughters, Janice (Ray) Wilks of Alliance, Carla (Jim) McCully of Malvern and Julie (Tom) Walker of Minerva; three sons, Tim Ford of Minerva, Jamie (Keli) Ford of Minerva, and Joe Enoch of Minerva; 20 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; cousin, Mary Grover of St. James, MO and nephew, Fred and Shirlee Collins of Hoffman Estates, IL.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 am in the Gotschall-Hutchison Funeral Home in Minerva with Chaplain Larry Karlen officiating. Burial will be in Augusta Cemetery. Calling hours will be Monday 6-8 pm in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Haven of Rest Ministries or the Alzheimer's Assoc. The family would like to thank the staff of the Great Trail Care Center for all of their wonderful care.