Gerald Rudolff Ford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Gerald Rudolff Ford (December 9, 1890 - January 26, 1962) was the namesake step-father of U.S. President Gerald Ford.

Ford was born and died in Grand Rapids, Michigan and raised the future President there. He was a paint salesman in the community.

Ford married Dorothy Ayer Gardner King on February 1, 1917 following Dorothy's divorce from Leslie Lynch King, Sr.. Dorothy had given birth to the future President (named Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) on July 14, 1913 at King's parent's home in Omaha, Nebraska.

Faced with abuse from her first husband, Dorothy Ayer Gardner fled 16 days after the birth to the Oak Park, Illinois home of her sister Tannisse Ayer Gardner James and then to the Grand Rapids home of her parents Levi Addison Gardner and Adele Augusta Ayer Gardner, where she met Gerald.

The couple referred to the future President as Gerald Ford, Jr., although he was never legally adopted. He changed it in 1935 after the deaths of his paternal King family grandparents to Gerald Rudolph Ford.

Gerald Rudolff Ford and Dorothy Ford bore three children - Thomas Gardner Ford (July 15, 1918 - August 28, 1995); Richard Addison Ford (born June 3, 1924); and James Francis Ford (August 11, 1927 - January 23, 2001).[1]

The couple is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Grand Rapids.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ University of Texas Ford Geneology
  2. ^ University of Texas history
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../g/e/r/Gerald_Rudolff_Ford_4525.html"