Edward B. Ford

Edward B. “Papa” Ford, 85, of St. Paul died Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul.   Services will be 10:30 a.m Saturday at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.   Visitation will be one hour before time of service at the funeral home.   Mr. Ford was born on June 6, 1928, at Heffner, Oklahoma, the son of William and Bonnie (Milligan) Ford.   He is survived by his wife, Diane of St. Paul; his children and spouses, Tom and Nyla Skinner of Scandia, KS, Kim and Doug Faulk of North Loup; Wesley Ford of Aurora and Daniel Ford of St. Paul.   He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Stephanie Ford and Justin Muller, Chris and Cathy Ford, Ben Skinner and Kendra Georg, Nick Skinner, Patricia Skinner and Cris Hill, Joseph Skinner, Tyson Skinner, and Tim and Jonna Skinner; and 6 great-grandchildren, Brianna Ford, Brendan and Braelyn Muller, Maci Ford, Alysa Skinner and Rya Skinner.   Edward grew up in Oklahoma, where he received his education and raised cotton with his father. He moved to Wabash, Nebraska in 1964, where he met Diane J. Paulsen. The couple were married on Feb. 14, 1983, at Greenwood.   In 1984, they moved to Greeley. He worked as a truck driver for Foxley Cattle Company of Chambers for 36 years, retiring in 2001. The couple moved to St. Paul in 2006, where he lived the rest of his life.   He enjoyed gardening, Atlanta Braves baseball, and Oklahoma Sooner football. He loved all animals, especially his dog, Suzie. He also dearly loved his grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and a grandson, Tommie Skinner. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice