Daryl M. Ford, 94, Valley Falls, died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, at Midland Care at Linnwood Park Assisted Living at Valley Falls.
He was born July 18, 1923, in the North Cedar Community, west of Valley Falls, the son of Calvin Courtney and Eva Viola Ferrell Ford. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1941. He served aboard the USS Sierra in the US Navy in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He attained the rank of Fireman First Class.
Daryl was Postmaster at the Valley Falls Post Office and had served as president and secretary of the Kansas Postmasters Association. He was a past National Vice President of the National Postmasters Association, representing Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. He was past president of the Jefferson County National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and had been secretary of Kansas NARFE. He had been a cashier at the Citizens State Bank in Valley Falls, and was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association.
In 1952, he became a charter member of the Valley Falls Lions Club and in 2017 was presented the Melvin Jones Award from Lions Club International. He was a member of the Valley Falls United Methodist Church, serving in many offices including Chairman of the Church Board. He had been Mayor of Valley Falls, served on the USD 338 School Board, and was a member of the Valley Falls Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Jefferson County Democratic Organization.
Daryl was Chaplain of the Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had also served as Post Commander. Accompanied by his granddaughter, Jennifer Clark, he traveled on an Honor Flight in 2014 to Washington D.C. At a Kansas City Royals baseball game in 2015, Daryl was recognized as an Honored Veteran. He was a member of Meriden Masonic Lodge No. 236, A.F.&A.M., Topeka Consistory Scottish Rite and Abdulah Shrine.
He married Bette M. Parrott, July 30, 1944, at Valley Falls. She died June 14, 2009. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Wanda Koons.
Survivors include his daughter, Deidre L. Slagle, and her husband, Steven, his granddaughter, Jennifer Clark, and her husband, Eric, all of Lolo, MT; and his brother, Lyndall Ford, Overland Park.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Military honors by Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be conducted at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Gragg's Chapel Cemetery west of Valley Falls. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Falls United Methodist Church and sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.