Joseph Ford
Dr. Joseph Charles Ford, 74, of Belton, Texas, died April 30 at his home.
He was born in Beebe to Cleo and Guy Ford. After graduating from Beebe High School, he attended Arkansas State Teachers College on a football scholarship where he achieved a double major in English and biology.
He went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. After medical school, Joe began an internship at Scott and White Hospital where he met the love of his life, Mary Anne.
Upon the completion of his internship, he started his practice in Moody, Texas. After one year, he entered the U.S. Army, where he was honorably discharged as a captain. After one year of surgical residency at Scott and White, Joe and Mary moved to San Antonio where they raised five children. While in San Antonio, he became board certified in both surgery and plastic surgery.
After 30 years of a successful private practice, they moved to Belton. He went on to establish a plastic surgery residency program at the V.A. Hospital in Temple where he taught the art and science of his craft.
He loved the practice of plastic surgery. It was his mission in life. He always taught his students to listen to their patients. He said, “They’ll tell you what is going on with them.” He never gave less than a “savage effort” in whatever he did.
He was a 32nd degree Mason of the Moody Lodge where he had been a member for almost 50 years. He received the Golden Trowel Award, which is the highest award given to an individual member.
Though he suffered a massive stroke, which left him in a wheelchair for three and a half years, still he lived with determination and dignity. He never let us down. He was the strongest, most imaginative person we’ve ever known.
Joe leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Mary Anne; his sister, Margaret Ford; and his children, Frances, Joanne, Joe Jr., Guy, and Mary; and six grandchildren, Joe III, Jessica, Andrew, MaKayla, Reagan, and Cora.
Graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at the Beebe Cemetery in Beebe, where he was raised. Funeral services by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Charles Milbrad
Charles Milbrad, 77, of Jacksonville passed away May 3. He was born Jan. 20, 1930 in Fairmont, W.V.
He retired with the rank of master sergeant after 26 and a half years of service in the Air Force. Later he worked at the VFW as quartermaster.
He is survived by his mother, Sarah Beard Milbrad; three step-sons, James Merritt and his wife Alana of Little Rock, Rich Merritt and his wife Ashley of Jacksonville and Everett Merritt and his wife Jackie of Boaz, Ala.; and four grandchildren, Terry, Paul, Kristena and Michael.
Memorial services were May 4, at Moore’s Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville.
Susan Lang
Susan Alice Lang, 90, of Jacksonville passed away April 28 at her home. She was born Aug. 20, 1917 to the late Coatnie Moore and Everette Griffin.
She was a homemaker and babysat many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren through the years.
She was a member of The Church of God of Prophecy for 58 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Uriah Lang; one son, Uriah Lang, Jr.; and five brothers, Coy, Ceicle, Curtis, Clark and Aubrey Griffin.
Survivors include two sons, Burnice Eugene Land and wife Wanda of Cabot, John E. Lang and wife Shela of Jacksonville; three daughters, Frances Smith and husband C.L., and Priscilla Louise Armstrong and husband Roger of Beebe, and Barbara Taylor and husband Jack of Jacksonville; two brothers, Floyd Griffin of Dallas, Texas, and Pat Griffin of Sherwood; 13 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral was May 4 at McArthur Assembly of God with Rev. Larry Burton officiating. Burial was at Sixteenth Section Cemetery. Arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
