Rita A. Ford, 66, Topeka, formerly of Valley Falls, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at a Topeka care facility.

She was born on July 13, 1946, at Lawrence, the daughter of Lt. Col. Barnett Leon and Bernadine Holeman Bales.

Rita had worked as a CNA at the Cottonwood Care Facility in Lawrence. She was a member of the Baptist Church.

She married Roger D. Dora on Sept. 21, 1968, at Lawrence. They divorced. She married Stephen Ford on April 8, 1994, at Valley Falls, KS. He died on June 22, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her father, Lt. Col. Barnett Bales and a brother, Gerald D. Bales.

Survivors include her mother, Bernadine Bales, San Antonio, TX; two brothers, Danny L. Bales and Barry L. Bales; and three stepsons, Matthew Ford, Hank Ford and Jerry Ford.

The graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Family and friends will meet at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls at 9:30 a.m. and leave in procession at 10:15 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.