Thurman Ford Jr.

Thurman Ford, Jr., age 87, went home to the arms of His Lord and Savior on August 13, 2021.  He was born to the late Thurman Ford, Sr. and Ona Bice Ford on March 8, 1934, in Sulphur Rock, AR, where he was the youngest of five children.

His high school basketball coach talked his mother into allowing him to skip 8th grade so he could go ahead and play on the basketball team. As a result, he graduated from SRHS when he was 17 in 1951.

Following high school he worked in construction in Kansas.  After a year of this line of work, he decided this was not for him and wanted to pursue a college degree instead.  So he came back to Batesville, sold his car so he would have money for college, and hitched a ride back home before enrolling in Arkansas College.  During his freshman year at AC, he was discovered by Coach Dick Winningham while playing on a pickup team and offered a basketball scholarship.  He played his remaining 3 years of college for the Highlanders, and it was an experience he cherished and talked about often.

Shortly after his college graduation in 1956, he was drafted into the US Army.  He completed his basic training at Fort Chaffee and was stationed in Fort Huachuca, AZ for his remaining time in service.  During his two years he traveled all over the world playing both basketball and baseball.  He was discharged from the Army in May of 1958, and he began student teaching summer school to embark on a career in education on June 1 of that year.  That career spanned 34 years, and he served as a basketball coach, high school math teacher, high school principal, and superintendent.  While he enjoyed serving as superintendent in 4 different districts in Arkansas, his fondest career memories were during his time spent coaching basketball.  Even up until recently he kept in touch with former players.

In his senior year of college, in 1955, he walked into Kelly’s Café and met the girl he would marry.  A relationship ensued and Sally Marie Long would become his bride of 62 years as they were married at Calvary Baptist in Batesville in 1959.

Junior, T Model, Ford, Coach, Mr. Ford, Dad, and Papaw were some of the names he was known by.  He had a kind, gentle spirit, sweet personality, and broad smile.  His wife, children, and grandchildren were his world.  They not only knew it but felt it.  He was the definition of a family man.  The legacy of a life well-lived with generosity, selflessness, humor, consistency, faith, but most of all love that he leaves behind is something his family will always cherish.  There are no words to describe how much he loved, how much he was loved, and how he will be missed.  We are truly blessed by his life, his love, and his example.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Billy and Jimmy and sisters Clara Belle and Marietta.  Additionally to his wife, his is survived by his sons Rod Ford and Mike Ford (Leslie), daughter Stacye Shelnut (Eric), and his 8 grandchildren Drew Herget (Ryan), Yale Ford, Jules Ford, Adam Ford (Elizabeth), Rachel Sackoff (Kyle), David Ford, Grant Shelnut, and Grace Anne Shelnut.

Visitation will be held from 3:30–4:30 on Wednesday, August 18 at Smith-Benton Funeral Home in Benton followed by a memorial service from 4:30-5:30.  Mr. Ford attended First Baptist Church in Benton.  His son, Mike Ford, will officiate the service along with Dr. Rick Grant.  There will also be a family graveside service on Thursday, August 19 at 10:30 at Oaklawn cemetery in Batesville.  Pallbearers will be Adam Ford, David Ford, Yale Ford, Grant Shelnut, Ryan Herget, and Kyle Sackoff.

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook:www.SmithFamilyCares.com.