Born on May 2, 1954, in Bedford, Indiana
Departed on June 2, 2021 in Melbourne, Florida
Ann Adele Ford, 67, of Melbourne, FL passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on June 2, 2021 in Melbourne, FL. Ann was born on May 2, 1954 in Bedford, IN to Doyle A. and Adele (Byers) Cobb, she was the middle of 5 children. Ann is survived by her two older brothers Ronald Doyle (Sue) Cobb of Vallonia, IN and Michael Edward (Helen) Cobb of Melbourne, FL as well as her two younger sisters Robyn Lorraine (John) Garland of Jacksonville, FL and Deborah Dianne Cobb of Bedford, IN. Ann graduated from Bedford High School in 1972 and has always enjoyed returning to Bedford for her high school reunions. Ann became a registered nurse graduating from Indiana University of Kokomo in May 1976. It was there that she met her loving husband Robert “Bob” Charles Ford II from Kokomo, IN. They married on June 5, 1976, she passed away just shy of their 45th wedding anniversary. Bob and Ann moved to Melbourne, FL in 1977 where they started their family and careers. They had three children; Aimee Adele Whitlock, Amanda Brooke Sturgil, and Robert “Bobby” Charles Ford III. After her kids were grown, Ann returned to Indiana University of Kokomo and attained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree in May 2004. Ann was a well-known nurse for over 44 years starting as an Obstetrics nurse with Dr. Victor Alvarez, then moving onto a GI lab nurse at Holmes Regional Medical Center, and finally a nurse at the Breast Center all in Melbourne, FL. She retired in July 2019.
Ann is preceded in death by her mother, Adele, and father, Doyle, her in-laws Robert Charles Ford and Betty Louise (Young) Ford. She is survived by her husband Bob; daughters Aimee (Dave Larkin) Whitlock, Amanda (Shannon) Sturgil; son Bobby (Holly) Ford; grandchildren Madison Ann-Adele (Tony Jenkins) Whitlock (21), Christian Kai Reeves (Cali Hirst) Whitlock (19), Shaelen Louise Whitlock (15), Skylar Ashley Sturgil (10), Brooklyn Ann Sturgil (10), Laken Frances Whitlock (7), Abigail Rose Ford (6), Charlotte Elizabeth Ford (4), Robert “Charlie” Charles Ford IV (3); great-grandchildren Jesiah Matey Jenkins (3), Chloe Noelle Whitlock (8 months), and another on the way; and her beloved dogs Levi and Tuxedo. Ann has many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins all whom were very special to her.
Ann was not only a skilled and empathetic nurse, she was a devoted wife, sister, loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother “Nana”, great grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and friend. Ann was an angel here on earth. She cared for her mother-in-law, then her own mother, all while caring for all those named above. Ann loved unconditionally and always looked for the good in people. She was fiercely caring, loyal, and giving. Her smile and laugh were contagious, she always made you feel welcome and as if you were the only person in the room. She knew not only about you but about your friends and family and would always ask about them. Ann never missed a birthday and loved to sing the birthday song first thing in the morning on our special day. Ann was the “rock” of our family, she was the glue that kept us all together. We are all beyond devastated. She left behind a massive absence that can never be replaced.
“Life is a Journey, not a Destination”
Memorial Services will be held at:
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
1710 Hickory St.
Melbourne, FL 32901
Saturday June 19, 2021 at 10am
Reception for family and friends will be held at Suntree Country Club immediately following at 12PM.
Anyone wishing to share expressions of sympathy is asked to consider donations in Ann’s name to: Indiana University of Kokomo School of Nursing
“Write in gift area”: Ann Adele Ford Memorial Nursing Scholarship
You never said I’m leaving
You never said goodbye.
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knew why.
A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place,
That no one could ever fill.
It broke my heart to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone
For part of me went with you,
The day God took you home.
Ann was such a kind, sweet, and caring person. She will be missed so much by so many who knew and loved her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Sandy Byers-Evitt
from
Invercargill NZ June 16, 2021
No words enough can comfort Bob and 3 generations of family Ann loved to bits. She lived for those she loved. Sending my love to you all. So looked forward to her planned trip to see me in NZ last year after many years of meeting her in Oz as a teenager. COVID stopped that but thought maybe next year. She was the matriarch of her family and my connection with lots of my USA rels. Will miss that terribly. Wish I could be there with you all. Mega hugs and love to all.
Ann was one of God’s tender mercies that he gives to His children to help us on this journey. I thank God for Ann, her family and all those lives she touched - I’m guessing pretty much everyone who ever knew her.
My heart goes out to Bob and his beautiful family.
Ann was a beautiful person inside and out. Her kindness touched me even before I knew her. When I had my first baby in 2017 and was struggling to get help early 2018, she offered to help watch my baby, through our common friend and neighbor Linda - I remember wondering who does this, these days and what a big heart she has. Every meeting thereafter, with Ann at get-togethers, book clubs and parties, has been so wonderful. I relate to this sentence about her - ‘ Her smile and laugh were contagious, she always made you feel welcome and as if you were the only person in the room. She knew not only about you but about your friends and family and would always ask about them’. It meant a lot to me, not having born or brought up in this country, and sometimes feeling out of place - she always made me feel comfortable. I will miss seeing her and talking to her. Much love to Ann’s family. 🙏🏼
Margaret R. Faulkner BSN RN Coordinator NHG serving North Central Indiana
from
Kokomo June 12, 2021
The Nursing Honor Guard serving North Central Indiana would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to the entire Ford family. We are thankful for Ann's strength, wisdom, soothing words, compassion, gentle healing hands and love of nursing. More than 100 nurses in North Central Indiana have been given the privilege of praying for your family as you prepare to celebrate Ann's life.
There are certain people that really make an impression of love and acceptance of all people; Ann was that lady for myself and our friends. She and Bob were so welcoming to my grandparents and mom. The Ford house was one we could let our guard down and be crazy teens without judgment. I remember dressing up for prom just for fun when we were too young to attend, and jumping in the Ford family vehicle to pretend to drive. Ann would just smile and say "Oh, you girls!". She just rolled with it. I remember the gorgeous photo of her as a teen on the wall. She looked just like Aimee and Amanda, with a bit of movie-star sparkle.
Her legacy of love will remain.
My deepest condolences to her family who is hurting without her. May you know Ann's love reached extended corners of many lives.
I have so many wonderful memories in the Ford house. Ann always made me feel loved and special. She was always so caring and funny. We always had such a fun time! Hearing this news was devastating and heart breaks for all of you. Ann loved her family more than anything. She was an amazing Mom. She will always hold a special place in my heart. Thinking of all you ❤️
We here at MedFast are sorry for your loss. Your family and ours are deeply rooted in this community providing healthcare. We hope to continue to build upon the heath care compassion that your mother and family have exemplified. Life truly is a journey and not a destination. God willing we will all meet again and celebrate together at the end of the journey.
Prayers and love to the entire Ford family....There are NO words to express how I feel and how much Ann will be missed. Her smiles, her laughter, her friendship and her nursing expertise!! What a beautiful family she nurtured. I miss you today and always Ann!!!!
We are thinking about you, and can't imagine the feeling of loss you have. Ann with live through the people that she cared for while a nurse. Mostly, through her family who thought of her as a wife, mom, grandmother "Nana', an great-grandmother.
Born on May 2, 1954, in Bedford, Indiana