Jeffrey Louis Ford

Jeffrey Louis Ford was born Jan. 30, 1959, in Walla Walla to Dale and Sharon Gale Ford. He passed away on Jan. 28, 2013 at his home in San Dimas, Calif.

Jeff attended Assumption and Edison grade schools, Pioneer Junior High and Walla Walla High School, where he was on the cross country track team. After high school in 1977, he attended Walla Walla Community College for two years and then at Eastern Washington University, where he received a bachelor’s degree. Jeff loved the outdoors and enjoyed all sports: fishing and Little League as a child, and becoming an avid golfer as an adult. After college and a brief hiatus in Portland, he set out for California, where he met, fell in love and married Robin Zuier, a beautiful blonde from San Dimas, Calif. Jeff and Robin were married on July 2, 1988, and have two children, MacKenzie and Mitchell.

Jeff was an insurance broker for NuWest Services at Irvine, Calif., for 20 years. In a letter of sympathy from his friend and associate at NuWest, Chuck Rosenberger who wrote: “He was one of those superstar guys with a personality that could befriend anyone, but more than that, he was a friend. All of his business associates and clients loved him. The outpouring of love and shock in hearing of Jeff’s passing has been overwhelming. He certainly impacted many lives. I miss him.”

Jeff is survived by his wife, Robin; their two children, MacKenzie and Mitchell; his wife’s family in San Dimas who were like a second family to Jeff; his parents, Dale and Sharon Ford of Walla Walla; five sisters, Gale Petersen of Portland, Deborah Hudson of Cheney, Wash., Heather Kautzky of Sammamish, Wash., Dawn Wilhelm of Liberty Lake, Wash., Jennifer Marsh of Rathdrum, Idaho; two brothers, Michael and Stephen Ford; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Rosary will be Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 4 p.m. at Assumption Church; the Memorial Mass will be Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Assumption Church. The celebrant will be Father Tim Hays. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffrey Ford Memorial Fund through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA, 99362.