Kathryn Ann Ford

Kathryn Ford, 80, of Malvern, IA, passed away October 18, 2015 at the Hospice with Heart Home in Glenwood, IA. A Friends & Family Celebration of Life will be held Monday, October 26, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Classic Cafe in Malvern. At the request of her family, please wear pink in honor of Kathryn. In lieu of flowers, memorials are directed to the Malvern Student Loan, Hospice with Heart or Wortman Log Cabin Preservation. Kathryn Ann Stogdill Ford, one of two daughters of Glen Laverne and Bernice M (Aves) Dalrymple, was born on June 19, 1935, at the family home in Malvern, Iowa. She attended all twelve years of school at Malvern and graduated in 1953 with lifelong friends. Kathryn was very active in high school with her favorites as music, both in school and at church, dancing, 4-H and Rainbow for Girls. She attended Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. In 1955, Kathryn began her teaching career at Chantry Elementary School in Malvern and earned her B.S. degree in 1960. Kathryn and her high school sweetheart, Richard Leon "Jerry" Stogdill, were married on November 4, 1955 in Malvern following his eighteen month tour...[more]

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the DMZ in Korea. They were blessed with a daughter, Karen Sue. Kathryn and Jerry were working towards their B.S. degrees when Jerry's untimely death, due to kidney disease, occurred on July 30, 1958. Following his funeral service, Kathryn and Karen were posthumously awarded Jerry's B.S. degree which he had earned in full. It was presented to them by President Neal Goman of Peru State College. Kathryn once said she would never remarry unless she found someone else who loved to dance. On June 15, 1964, Kathryn and James Donald Ford were married in Malvern. Kathryn's family grew to include Jim's children, Patricia Ann, Gary Allen and Michael James. They purchased the Sam Norton home on Marion Avenue in Malvern and filled it with plenty of the children's friends, lots of food from the garden, and a yard with little grass but held many ball games and lots of love. Vacations with a tent and camping gear took the family on several ten day trips. While teaching, Kathryn served as co-operating teacher supervising student teachers. She was the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award in 1988 from the Student Iowa State Education Association. In addition to teaching duties, she became Administrative Assistant at Chantry for a number of years. Kathryn retired from teaching in 1997 after 42 years. Jim continued working at his service station until 2005, when he retired after 49 years. They enjoyed taking restful summer vacations over several years. Through the years, Kathryn was active in several educational organizations; ISEA, NEA, Malvern Student Loan Board, in which she was one of the founding members and just recently stepped down this year, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She also enjoyed Eastern Star for a number of years. A great interest in Malvern and its history led Kathryn to clip many of Allen Wortman's articles from the Malvern Leader, as well as, articles covering the demolition of old buildings and the opening of new businesses, compiling many scrapbooks. She was also an avid genealogy enthusiast. For many years, the hub for holiday happenings was the Ford home. Halloween, with its lights and decorated porch, often welcomed more than two hundred little goblins. Probably the highlight of Kathryn's first 75 years was the lovely open house hosted by her family for her birthday. Battling cancer since 1988, Kathryn made every effort to live a normal, while somewhat diminished lifestyle, with chemotherapy and radiation through four occurrences. Her goal was to encourage others with cancer to live life fully as possible and to count their blessings. Kathryn recently served as the 2015 Homecoming "Grand Marshall" in the parade this year. She has been a true inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Her strength was truly immeasurable. Kathryn cared for her husband Jim, as long as possible, so he could remain in the home that he loved. Jim passed away on November 11, 2011. Kathryn was a wonderful teacher, a great mentor, and true friend to so many throughout her life. She helped shape lives with her wisdom, honesty, and integrity. To her family, whom were her pride and joy, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Kathryn passed away at the Hospice with Heart home in Glenwood, Iowa on October 18, 2015, at the age of 80 years, 3 months, and 29 days. In addition to her husbands, Jerry and Jim, she was also preceded in death by her parents; daughter Pat Howard; son Mike Ford; brother-in-law Lloyd "Ike" Coughenour; and nephew Steven Coughenour. Kathryn is survived by her children, Karen Marsh and Gary Ford and his wife Jill, all of Malvern; eleven grandchildren, Rachel Marsh and Paul Marsh, both of Malvern, Kindra Copperstone and husband Jeff of Hastings, Jay West and wife Shelly of Malvern, Heather Calhoun and husband Tony, and Tom Ford and wife Deb, all of Omaha, NE, Jaime Naig and husband Mike of Urbandale, IA, Andy Ford and fiancé Christine Perkins of Hastings, Adam Ford and wife Helen of West Des Moines, IA, James Ford of Lincoln, NE, and Michael Ford of Plattsmouth, NE; ten great grandchildren, Weston, Tess, and Evan Copperstone, Mitch, Zach and Joe Naig, Miah Ford, Cameron Baggs and Darion Baggs, and Ellie Ford; sister Jane Coughneour of Colo, IA; several nieces and nephews; extended relatives; many former students and a host of friends.