William "Hoyt" Ford

He was born in Williamston, South Carolina on January 9, 1917. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Jean Fajans Ford. He is survived by his devoted wife, Jean Hammett Ford of Charlotte, his two children, daughter; Lynne Ford Westra and son-in-law, Robert Westra of Charlotte; son, Hoyt Douglas Ford and daughter-in-law, Debi Ford; granddaughters, Lindsey and Dorey Ford of Monroe, Georgia as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is survived also by two stepchildren, William Roger Warren and wife, Cindy Warren, of Fairfax Station, Virginia and their children Bill, Jennifer and Joe Warren and Barbara and husband, Dennis Mattox and their children Josh and Kevin Mattox.

Hoyt graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He received a BS in mathematics from New York University and went on to earn a Masters degree in Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

He served in the military in World War II and lost two ships during the war. In 1992, he was awarded a medal given only to American Veterans for his service during WWII from the Russian Federation at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC.

He was an engineer for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia and was, for a time, on loan for special assignment to The Atomic Energy Commission. After he retired, he taught mathematics at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He and his wife attended Calvary Church in Charlotte.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 11:00am at Calvary Church. The family will receive friends Monday evening, August 16, 2010 at Calvary Church from 7:00 - 9:00pm. A family interment service will be held at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, August 19, 2010.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carmel Hills Retirement Home, 2801 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226 or to Southern Evangelical Seminary, 3000 Tilley Morris Road, Matthews, NC 28105.

The family thanks both the staff at Carmel Hills and Dr. Danny Honeycutt, the family doctor, for their excellent care, thoughtfulness, and kindness to Mr. Ford over the years.

McEwen Pineville Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.