Esther M. Ford

Esther M. Ford age 87 of Portage, passed away Tuesday June 30, 2026, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Esther was born April 13, 1939, in South Haven, the daughter of Charles and Mary (Jones) Lamb. Esther was born the fifth child in a family of eight children (seven were girls). Even in such a large family with so many girls, Esther grew to be uniquely Esther. Though she and her sisters shared many of the same values and philosophies, Esther cut her own path. With such a large brood, her parents instilled in their children the idea that knowledge was wealth. Esther was persistent in pursuing higher math classes at a time when young ladies were encouraged to focus on other subjects. When personal computers were available in the 1980s, she jumped right in. In her retirement years, she assisted kindergarteners with computers. A car accident claimed her first husband before the children were out of the home. She persevered through the sorrow while raising her children. Later, she was available to other widows with a listening ear or words of wisdom. When a quiet man saw Esther for the exceptional woman she was, he diligently pursued her. After Esther said “yes” to the first date with George Ford, they were married five months later. They had a great love story for twenty-five years. They fished, camped, canoed, and yelled at dogs together. They loved their blended family together. They were each other’s best gift. Esther did not know a stranger. Meeting and getting to know other people, young or old, was her favorite hobby. If you wanted to share a joy or a heartache with her, she was all ears. And when she wanted to share with you, she had plenty to say. She always enjoyed sharing time with others. Esther shared her faith in action more than in words. She had a gift of being the calm and peace in crisis. When a person was broken-hearted and their life was falling apart, she helped them to take the hard but necessary steps or let them sit and restore. She seemed to know what was needed. Either way, there would be coffee available. She Graduated from South Haven High School, Attended Western Michigan University and Lake Michigan College. Esther was the program coordinator for Van Buren County Commission on Aging, and she attended Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Clair, MI and City Church in Kalamazoo. She enjoyed knitting, fishing, camping and loved her dogs. Surviving are five children, Cheryl (Brian Swenson) Warren, Nick (Karen) Warren, Dennis Warren, Justine (Marty) McKenna, Darcy (Bruce) Price. Seven Grandchildren, Kyra (Adam) Dills, Trey Warren, Candice (Zac O’Heran) Uhl, Samuel McKenna, Kim (Craig) Simpson, Greg (Kristi) Price, Amber (Jacob Wright) Ptacek; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jackie Parrott, Eleanora Cox, Sarah Chambers. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Robert N. Warren Sr., second husband, George W. Ford; brother, David Lamb; three sisters, Judith Van Ness, Laura Lamb, Majel Youdell; stepdaughter, Della Rigby.