Walter Ford, Jr.

Walter Ford, 90, of Kerrville, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, slipped into God's loving arms on April 11, 2019, at his home in Kerrville with his wife and daughters at his side. \r\n\r\nWalter was born on November 28, 1928, in El Paso to Walter O. Ford Sr. and Marguerite Burkhead Ford. His family soon moved to Dallas where he later attended Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1946. Walter attended Baylor, SMU and graduated from Oklahoma University as a Petroleum Engineer in 1950. Shortly thereafter, he started his family and his business, Ford Well Logging Company, in Wichita Falls. In 1970 Walter moved his business (now Injection Engineering Services) and his family to Midland. Walter worked in the oil fields of Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, and Michigan until retiring to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1995.\r\n\r\nWalter was a man of many interests, talents and friends who had a passion for knowledge. He was an avid reader of non-fiction and a lifelong learner who throughout his life collected an extensive library on the many topics that captured his interest. Walter will be best remembered by many as an avid outdoorsman, expert marksman, and hunter. His grand accomplishment was his North American Wild Sheep Grand Slam, which he achieved at age 79. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Bighorn Society, Wild Sheep Foundation, and National Rifle Association, and was also an Official Measurer for the Boone and Crockett Club for many years.\r\n\r\nIn addition to hunting, Walter loved boating and sailing and being on the water at both Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands and Lake Powell. He enjoyed fly fishing on the American West's best trout streams and studying archeology and the history of early man along the way. Walter was a passionate student of history, particularly Native American, WWII, and Civil War history, and he loved 1940s big band jazz and the Santa Fe Opera. With such varied interests, it is no wonder that he enjoyed his years of traveling the world with his wife, Laura, at his side.\r\n\r\nWalter will be remembered as a strong presence. Kind. Generous. Witty. A good joke teller. He was passionate about things he liked, and that included Texas barbecue, Blue Bell Vanilla Bean ice cream, green chili chicken enchiladas with ketchup on top, and hot fudge sundaes. He was a One-of-a-Kind man and will be greatly missed by all who loved him.\r\n\r\nWalter is preceded in death by his son, Walter O. (Trey) Ford, III. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Laura Cox Ford; ex-wife and mother of his children, Barbara Ford; daughters, Sharon Ford Graves (Rick) of Fischer, Karen Ford of San Marcos, stepdaughter Julie Porter (Carl); grandsons, Ford Pierson (Lindy), Chase Pierson (Jenna), Jake Lynch; step-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Mitchel Porter; and great-grandchildren, Oliver Trey Pierson, Emory June Pierson, and Presley Jordyn Pierson.\r\n\r\nA memorial service to celebrate Walter's big life is planned for Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 11 am at the Kerrville Church of Christ. A reception and barbecue lunch will follow at the church. Friends and family are invited to send condolences through the website: www.grimesfuneralchapels.com, by selecting the Send Condolences link.\r\n\r\nThe family would like to acknowledge to the comfort and care received from Alamo Hospice in Kerrville. Walter and family were blessed to be part of their ministry and love during his final weeks. \r\n\r\nDonations in memory of Walter may be made to Arms of Hope (Medina Children's Home) 21300 TX-16, Medina, TX 78055. \r\n\r\n