Richard Smedley Ford

Centerville - Richard Smedley Ford, age 86, beloved husband, father, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and dear friend, returned to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father on 1 January 2024.  He was born on 30 May 1937, in Salt Lake City, the son of Keith Haight and Jassamine Smedley Ford.

Richard married his eternal sweetheart, Sharon Taylor, on 7 June 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple.  He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings.  Richard and Sharon served a two-year mission in the Family Record Extraction Program and as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Temple.

Richard obtained his pilot's license at the age of sixteen.  He always enjoyed the history of aviation.  He served in the Air National Guard and the Army Reserve, in the Army Intelligence Unit.  Richard was a retired Air Route Traffic Controller and built his own airplane, an RV9A, during his retirement. He also served for many years as a volunteer at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base.

Richard is preceded in death by his eternal sweetheart, Sharon Taylor Ford, daughter Kathy Ford Wilson, father Keith Haight Ford, and mother Jassamine Smedley Ford.

He is survived by his children: Bob (wife Ellen) Ford, Riverton; Sheri (husband Reed) Tidwell, Centerville; Kevin Wilson, Syracuse; Brad (wife Anni) Ford, St. George; 17 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.  He is also survived by two sisters, Shirley Allred (Bountiful), and Margaret Ann Lewis (American Fork).

Richard, Sharon, and their family are extremely grateful for the love, care, and service of their many dear neighbors and friends.  We love you forever.  We are also very grateful for the tender care of Richard by Visiting Angels, the Legacy House of Bountiful, and Atlas Hospice over the last four months.

Friends may call at the Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah for a viewing on Friday, January 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 6th at 11 am at the Centerville 3rd Ward building located at 900 South and 400 East in Centerville, Utah.  A viewing will also be held at this building prior to the funeral from 9:45 to 10:45 am.