James Hanford Ford

James Hanford Ford was born in Kansas City, MO, in 1927, the eldest of four children. The family suffered during the Depression, as their father was hospitalized with tuberculosis for a time, necessitating that James and his brother, John, spend many months in an orphanage in Kansas City. Eventually, the family reunited in Kansas City, and then moved to Los Angeles during the mid-1930s. After graduating from Cathedral High School in L.A., in May, 1945, James was immediately drafted into the US Army. The war in Europe had just concluded. He served the bulk of his two years in the Army of Occupation in Berlin, Germany. He returned home in mid-1947, and under the GI Bill, and attended UCLA.. After 2.5 years of constant study, he was accepted into USC Medical School. While an intern, James met a Registered Nurse (R.N.), Paule Hilliard, who worked at LA County Hospital. They married in late 1951, and had six children. They were married 68 years. After becoming a Medical Doctor, and serving in Woodland, CA, and the US Navy in San Diego,, James established a general practice in Lynwood, CA.. He helped deliver more than 1,000 babies during his medical career. He was certified as a family therapist, and spent many hours helping couples as a marriage counselor. He also taught classes at the local Catholic High School. In response to newly liberalized abortion legislation, James became active in medical politics, and medical journalism. For more than 25 years, he was elected by his fellow physicians as their delegate to the California Medical Association. He also published a good number of letters and articles from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. He was an advisor to Judy Brown of the American Life League (ALL), and active in several pro-life organizations, or on their boards. He testified as an “expert witness" before the California Legislature and the U.S. Congress. He served for many years as President of the Southern California Catholic League. One of Dr.. Ford's notable accolades was being awarded the Thomas Linacre Award for Medical Journalism from the Catholic Medical Assn. Soon after moving with his wife, Paule, to Upland, CA about the year 2000, James retired from medical practice. Sadly he had become bed-ridden for much of his retirement due to back injuries suffered in a fall years before.. After Paule died this past October, James had a serious fall, and was admitted to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.. He slowly declined over the next 9 months, and passed away at age 94 on August 14th., He is survived by a younger brother, Mark, and a sister-in-law, Verlaine, and a nephew and niece. He is also survived by 5 of his 6 children, Paul, Mary-Chris, Catherine, Marguerite, and Patrice. Jacqueline, the youngest, proceded Paule and James in death 16 years ago. From their 6 children, James and Paule leave 51 grandchildren, and 96 great-grandchildren. Services for James will be private.