Ann Woodruff Ford

Ann Robinson Woodruff Ford, 79, well-loved wife of Horace (Bob) Ford went to be with her Lord Jesus on April 19, 2017 at her home in Harbor Springs.

Ann was a fun-loving mother to Carey Ford (Jens Mammen), Lee Ford Walsh, and Christine Ford Gettel (Brian); stepmother to Jeffrey Ford (Karen) and James Ford (Laurie). Her grandchildren are Peter (Sarah), Zachary (Bobbie), Gretchen and Hanna Ford; Riley, Connor and Emily Ford; Corinne Barker (Jacob), Erin and Graham Gettel, Clune, Sloane and Clare Walsh. She has five great-grand children; Evyril, Parker, Jackson, Fiona and Nora Ford with two babies on the way. She is survived by sisters Sally Ingold, Jan Race and Donna Hildebrand.

Born August 16, 1937 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She was the daughter of the late Edith Woodruff Nelson and Donald Woodruff.

Annie grew up in Grosse Pointe; graduated from Detroit Country Day School and attended Bennett College before marrying the “boy-next-door” who she affectionately called my “brown-eyed Bobby.”  After raising a family, Ann and Bob spent their time between Vero Beach, Florida and Harbor Springs, Michigan from 1981- 2008, and the remaining years in Harbor Springs.

Family always came first; but she liked flying airplanes, playing tennis, singing and dancing, gardening, horseback riding, knitting, painting, and volunteer service.

Around 1960, Ann qualified as a private pilot achieving her multi-engine rating. She was in the process of earning her instrument rating when she decided to focus on raising her three young girls.

While in Grosse Pointe, she was involved at her daughters’ school, University Liggett, as well as the Colonial Dames, and the Detroit Junior League. In Vero Beach, she volunteered at the Humane Society, Dogs for Life an EMS unit, and sang in the John’s Island Singers.

Members of the Trinity Missionary Church in Petoskey, Michigan and the Church of God in Vero Beach, Florida, Ann (and Bob) grew in their faith in Jesus Christ.  Annie’s generous spirit and love of friends connected her to both communities in various ways: she participated in Bible studies, fostered therapy dogs and enjoyed people wherever she was.

In her latter years, she was cared for at home by her devoted husband Bob and many loving caregivers, as well as comforted by the companionship of her favorite rescue dog, Max.

Memorial tributes to can be sent to Trinity Missionary Church or the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society.

There will be a memorial service in celebration of Ann’s life at Trinity Missionary Church, 600 N. Division, Petoskey, MI 49770 (tmchurch.com) on June 10, 2017 at eleven o’clock in the morning.

 Service Information