Milo W. Ford, Jr.

Milo Westel Ford, Jr., 96 of Dayton passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 19, 2014.Services for Mr. Ford will be 3:30 p.m., Friday, October 24, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, Dayton with Rev. Jon Stouffer officiating. Interment will follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday evening at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Dayton. Serving as pallbearers are Randel Arnold, Larry Harris, Vohn Myers, John Otto, Mike Scott, Dr. Robert Seaberg, Ralph Villermin, and Larry Wadzeck. Honorary Pallbearers are Boyd Arnold, Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr., Mark Morefield, David Parker, Carl Pickett, Roy A. Seaberg, Steve Stephens, Dr. Reginald Wilson, Lester Ray Wisegerber, Jim Woodall and the Disciples Class.He was born May 26, 1918 in Houston, Texas to parents Milo Westel Ford, Sr. and Ella Fay King Ford. M.W. was a lifelong resident of Dayton where he was a 1936 graduate of Dayton High School. He started working at Dayton State Bank during his freshman year of high school as the janitor and part-time help on Saturdays wrapping coins. He retired as President of the bank in 1987 but continued to serve on the Board of Directors. He was a 1940 graduate of Rice University where he remained a member of the Rice University Alumni Association. He proudly served his country during World War II as Captain in the United States Army Air Corp.The First United Methodist Church was very important to M.W. He was recently honored as a 75 year member. He had been organist and pianist for the First United Methodist Church for about 70 years when he retired at the age of 91. M.W. served in many capacities at the church, Lay Leader of Houston North District of United Methodist Church, Treasurer of Houston North District of United Methodist Church, Council on Ministries of Methodist Church, treasurer of the First United Methodist Church, member of the Disciples Sunday School Class and the board of development of Lon Morris College.M.W. was very active in his community serving as a member of many clubs and organizations. He had been the Mayor of Dayton, a Liberty Hospital Trustee, Board of Director of Dayton State Bank, Advisory Director of Security State Bank, treasurer of Dayton Masonic Lodge, member of Liberty/Dayton Art League, member of the Beaumont Art League, advisory member of Board of Directors of Dayton Community Development Corporation, member of the Drainage Board, member of the Shriners, member and treasurer of the Magnolia Park Cemetery. He was a member of the Texas Bankers Association where he was recognized for his 50 plus years of service.Mr. Ford was a longtime member of the Dayton Rotary Club and was honored by receiving the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. In 1983 he received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce. M. W. and his late wife Dorothy were honored this past weekend by the Dayton Historical Society by hosting the Dorothy and M.W. Ford, Jr. Art Exhibit at the Old School Museum. He not only had a love for art, but loved to travel, read, work puzzles, play dominoes, and enjoyed going to the beach. He loved his family, his community, his church and his God.M. W. was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 57 years Dorothy Fay Russell Ford, granddaughter Elizabeth Bajgier, sisters Allene Ford and Boonie Ford, brother Dr. George David Ford, and nephew David Westel Ford. He is survived by his daughters, Gina Bajgier and husband Gary of Houston, Dr. Jessica Johnson and husband John of Dayton; grandchildren, Sam Mazzu, III & wife Tracie, Dorothy Jo Landry & husband Ryan, Boone Bajgier and wife Rebecca, Esther Bajgier, Ruth Ann Bajgier and William Johnson; three great-grandchildren, Mason Milo Landry, Georgia Mae Mazzu, and Ella Fay Landry; also numerous other family members and friends.For those who desire memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 505, Dayton, Texas 77535.Please leave your thoughts and memories for the family at www.pacestancil.com