January 7, 1944 – August 23, 2026
Paul Edsel Ford, 82, of Heltonville, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at his residence.
Born January 7, 1944, in Bedford, he was the son of Opal and Mary (Stafford) Ford. Paul married the lifelong love of his life, Patty Sharr, on October 13, 1963, and brought three sons into the world. Prior to their marriage, both he and Patty graduated from Heltonville High School with the Class of 1962. In 1968, he received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana University while working full-time at General Motors, farming, and being a husband and father.
Paul started as an hourly employee at General Motors, and rose to executive positions at several General Motors manufacturing facilities. Paul’s career with General Motors spanned 40.5 years, retiring in 2006. His career started in Bedford, Indiana, took him and his family to Defiance, Ohio, then to Danville, Illinois, and eventually back to Bedford, Indiana.
A statement he made to Patty and his family numerous times during his career, and especially during retirement, was that this journey led him to meet and have relationships with great people. He worked hard in his roles at GM, but he worked equally as hard in making sure he and his family made a positive impact in the communities he lived and worked.
Paul was a lifelong farmer, raising beef cattle and crops. Paul was a committed supporter and fan of Indiana University athletics, especially the times he attended his son’s IU football games and his granddaughter’s IU softball games. Providing world class tailgates was common at these events with Paul.
Paul was a member of Heltonville Christian Church where he served as an elder for many years. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Bedford Masonic Lodge #14 F&AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis, and MURAT Shrine Club. He was President of the Pleasant Run Township Board, Gilgal Cemetery Board, and the past president of Bedford Urban Enterprise. He started the Heltonville Heritage Fund with the Lawrence County Community Foundation.
In 2006 Paul received the Distinguished Hoosier Award from Governor Mitch Daniels for his community contributions.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patty; three sons, Joseph (Laurie) Ford, James (Eileen) Ford, and Jerry Ford; nine grandchildren, Ryan Ford (fiancée Molly), Trevor (Taylor) Ford, Brittany Ford, Lizzie Ford, James Connor Ford (fiancée Bridget), Caroline Ford, Jacqueline (Harold) Finn, James Edsel (Taeha) Ford, Jerrod Ford, two great- grandchildren, Amelia Finn and Kirkman Ford, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Robert Ford, William Ford, and Kenneth Ford; two sisters, Joanne Kirkman and Jane Mundy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 27th, in the Elmwood Chapel of Day & Carter Mortuary, with Jon Lineback officiating. Burial will follow in Gilgal Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26th, and from 8:30 a.m. until the hour of service on Thursday, at Day & Carter Mortuary. A Masonic service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Heltonville Heritage Fund through Lawrence County Community Foundation https://www.cfpartner.org/donatenow, or Heltonville Christian Church.
Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.
