Howard E. Ford

Howard E. Ford, 83, of rural Dexter, Iowa died Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Westbridge Care and Rehabilitation in Winterset. A visitation with family will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 6 at the Community Building at the Madison County Fair Grounds. Memorials may be directed to Middle River Hospice and/or Westbridge Care and Rehabilitation’s Activity Fund. On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.ochiltree.com. Howard was born March 20, 1929 at home in Jackson Township, Madison County, Iowa; the son of Frank and Myrtle (Spencer) Ford. He grew up on the home farm near Pitzer. He married Marlene Boss on January 1, 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa. She preceded him in death on May 27, 1998. Howard was a farmer all of his life. He also operated heavy construction equipment and helped build I80 early in their marriage. He started shelling corn in the early 1960’s and bought his first combine in 1964 to start his custom harvesting. By the 1970’s, he and the family ran a wheat run that went from Texas to North Dakota. He also loved raising cattle. He was a member of the Southern Iowa Fiddle Club and played fiddle for many groups around Madison County. Howard came to play the fiddle later in life when he was in his 60’s but one would not have known since his fiddle playing was so good. Those left to honor his memory are his children, Donna (Steve) Crow of Truro; Jan (Dan) Lemon of Winterset; Kathy (Wes) Joynes of Panora; Becky (Terry) Flander of Scottsdale, AZ; Darrell (Shelly) Ford of Winterset; 21 grandchildren with one on the way, and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a grandson, Chad Lemon and two sisters, Peggy Algreen Swenson and Frances Simcoke.