Alton Ford

Alton Richard Ford of Beaverton passed away June 30, 2021 at the Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. He was born July 26, 1933, the son of Clinton and Freda (Blaesing) Ford of Petersburg Michigan. Alton was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church of Gladwin.

While serving In the United States Air Force as a Technical Sergeant with the Air Force Police, he married Josephine Marie (Gonzalez-Lopez) on August 14, 1954. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in August 1962. His passion for carpentry and structural building led him to manage a number of lumber companies. Alton, Josephine and their four children lived in Petersburg Mi, Temperance Mi, and Toledo Oh. In 1968 he moved his family to Ypsilanti Mi to manage Pine Lumber Company. In 1983 Alton and Josephine moved to Beaverton Mi where he served as the Gladwin County Building Inspector. He was an avid fisherman and custom built his many fishing shanties.

Alton was an American Legion member for 56 years, after joining The American Legion Ypsilanti Post 282 in 1969. As a member of Post 282, he was post commander in 1991 and 1995. He served Michigan’s highest office of State Commander 1992-1993. Alton served for the last 15 years on The American Legion National Internal Affairs Committee and was a member of the ANAVICUS (Army Navy American Veterans in Canada and US). He was the National Executive Committeeman of Michigan 1996-1998. During his 5+ decades of American Legion membership, he belonged to many committees and he was responsible for the opening and rehabilitation of many Legion Posts across Michigan, including the UP. He was a strong advocate for Veterans affairs and benefits, personally meeting many US presidents and was in Washington DC on his way to the Pentagon on 9/11 when it was hit. In 2019 Alton transferred his American Legion membership to Gladwin American Legion Post 171 and Josephine transferred her American Legion Auxiliary membership to Gladwin County American Legion Auxiliary Unit 171. Alton was a member of Gladwin VFW Post 7303.

Alton is survived by his wife Josephine, daughter Lora Holifield of Quincy Mi, daughter Joyce Klaus (Lee Klaus) of Ft. Wayne In, son Bryan (Julie Clare) of Lathrup Village Mi, and brother Eric Blaesing of Vienna Virginia, 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents Clinton and Freda Ford, brother Clinton Ford, sister Joyce (Ford) Smith and son Alton Royal Ford.

Funeral Services for Mr. Ford will be conducted by Pastor James Krach, Friday, September 3, 2021, 10:30 A.M. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gladwin. Inurnment with Graveside and Committal Services will follow with full military honors at 2:30 P.M. located at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, with full military honors. Arrangements are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin. www.hall-kokotovichfuneralhome.com