John Ford, 69, died unexpectedly in his home on Jan. 10, 2022. He was born July 1, 1952 in Martinsburg, WV, the son of John Clay Ford and Kathryn Louise (Custer) Ford. John graduated from South Hagerstown High School in 1970 after which he attended Shepherd College before transferring to the University of Maryland-College Park, where he earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Opera. John, who was adored by his family, friends, and colleagues for his warmth, kindness, sense of humor, and engaging personality, was a passionate and skilled singer with a commanding and rich bass voice. He was a section leader at Second Presbyterian Church for the past 12 years; before that at Centenary UMC, Richmond and St. John's Episcopal Church, Roanoke. He was active in the Southwest Virginia Opera during the 1980s and after moving to Richmond in the early 1990s he sang with Centenary Classics, The James River Singers, the Richmond Men's Chorus, and regularly sang for Lessons and Carols at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and Good Friday Service at St. Benedict RCC. John worked in numerous sectors during his life, retiring in 2019 from Virginia Credit Union.