In Memory
Ella Baumbach (Ford) - Class Of 1938
Ella Ruth Ford
May 4, 1921 - Aug. 23, 2009
Ella Ruth Ford died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the age of 88.
She was born May 4, 1921, at home in McCook. She was the daughter of the late William and Magdalena Baumbach. Ella was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook and graduated from eighth grade from Peace Lutheran School. She graduated from McCook High School in 1938.
After graduating from high school, Ella found a job selling magazines with a group of other young women. In the next few years she traveled to 46 states and always had fond memories of this time in her life. When World War II started she went to Cleveland, Ohio and worked in a war plant. After the war was over, Ella returned to McCook where she met her late husband, George Ellsworth Ford, while working as a receptionist at the Keystone Hotel.
After her marriage, Ella and George lived briefly in McCook, Denver, Colo., and North Platte, before moving to Garden City, Kan., where they lived from 1955 until 1964. In Garden City her only son, Billy died in a drowning accident which was the greatest tragedy of her life.
In 1964, George and Ella moved to Wichita, Kan., where Ella became one of Wichita's first female mail carriers. They continued to live in Wichita until George's death on Jan. 17, 1996. Ella then moved back to McCook, so she could be near her sister, Thelma. Thelma preceded her in death in 2002 and in 2004, Ella moved to Oklahoma City to be near her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ella was preceded in death by her parents; son, Billy; her husband, George; and all her brothers and sisters, including William, Edwin, Lorenz and Henry Baumbach, Clara Breitling, Esther Breitling, Margaret Rogers and Thelma Baumbach.
Ella is survived by her daughter, Mary Norris and her son-in-law, B.C. Norris. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Melissa Norris, Josh Norris and wife, Mistie and Jeremy Norris. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Mercedes, Christian and Alexis Norris as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ella loved to attend weekly Bible study and she enjoyed her morning paper, especially the crypto quip. She loved anything related to spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In their retirement years, she and George loved to attend senior citizens dances and always kept a home which was open to many friends.
Services to celebrate her life were Aug. 26, 2009, at Buchanan Funeral Chapel in Oklahoma City. Graveside services were at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook with Pastor Tom Albertson officiating.
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