Lorraine M. Ford

Lorraine M. Ford peacefully passed away in her sleep on October 20, 2020 at age 96. She often told folks that she was certain that she was 108 years old! She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Dr. Dwain Ford, who resides at Gilead Elder Care, 4790 Scottdale Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Lorraine with husband Dwain at her side, were and are very fortunate to have lived their last few years together in a very small elder care facility with very compassionate and loving staff present. The Gilead Elder Care facility had the look and feel of their former home to them. Getting old was tough, but Lorraine’s was a life fully lived along side of a husband she loved.

She is also survived by her three children: son David and wife Nancy Leland in Washington, daughter Diane in Berrien Springs, and son Larry in Sodus, Michigan. Survivors also include three grandchildren: Jim with wife Lisa in New Hampshire, Jes with husband Lee Wence, and sister Alison, all in Utah; and two great-grandsons: Christopher with wife Sarah in Maine, and his brother Joe in New Hampshire.

Lorraine was proud of her Finnish roots. Her family immigrated to this country between 1893 and 1905 from Kristinestad, Finland. Her parents, Ellida and Ewald Saline had four children born between 1922 and 1930: Lawrence, Lorraine, Melvin and Roy. Lorraine was very close to her older brother, Lawrence, who was killed in World War II at age 21 in the Battle of the Bulge.

Lorraine and husband Dwain paid their way through college by selling books door to door in Wisconsin and Minnesota, meeting and falling in love in the process. They were married in 1947 just prior to their junior years at Emmanuel Missionary College. Lorraine became secretary at the College and worked for a local tractor company to help put Dwain through his last two years of college instead of completing her final two years.

After college, Lorraine stayed home to raise her three children, and as they left home, she filled their empty bedrooms with College and University students needing room and board. Over a 25-year period Lorraine and Dwain housed between 25 and 30 students while the students attended Andrews University. This included some who ended up being caregivers to Lorraine and Dwain in their later years.

Lorraine found her job of feeding and housing students so fulfilling that she and Dwain created the Dwain and Lorraine Ford Scholarship Fund at Andrews University to continue their work of providing assistance to students in need. Any contributions from folks to this scholarship fund would be most welcome.

No public services will be held in these COVID-19 times. Memories and messages may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.com.