Bob was born to Joseph and Margaret Ford, and raised in Hagerstown, MD. He entered the US Navy in September 1945 at the age of 17, spending most of his career with the pacific fleet. His military service sent him to Japan, China, the Philippines, Australia, Hawaii, California and numerous places in between. He retired after 20 years of honorable service.

In 1957 he was united in marriage to Marlys Mae Bohn of Great Bend, ND. He married his second wife, Mickey (Stilwell) Ford in 1980, and she died of cancer in 1983.

Out of the service, Bob worked for NDSU for a number of years, as well as the Fargo Clinic (now Sanford). In Edina, MN Bob’s career path also led him to work for Consul Corporation (previous owners of the Chi Chi’s restaurant chain) and Rembrandt Retirement Community. He retired in 1994.

Bob loved to fish, people watch, and the Maryland professional sports teams, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Baltimore Ravens.

Robert is survived by his son Timothy (Cathy) Ford, Fargo; his grandson, Tristan Ford, Aberdeen, SD; his granddaughter, Kaitlin Ford, Minneapolis, MN; and a sister Margaret (Ronald) Klock, still in Hagerstown, MD.