William (Bill) Starling Ford 96, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

He was born on April 11, 1929, to the late Alta (Hall) Hoag Jacot and Harold Dewey Hoag, in Derby, Connecticut, and later adopted by John Ford. He graduated from Eastern Military Academy in Stamford, Connecticut in 1948 and a graduate of Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He married the late Charlotte Trueworthy on December 1, 1951. They lived in South Hadley and Westfield, Massachusetts, before relocating to Vero Beach in 1985.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Bill served during the Korean War. An aviator from his youth-he earned his private pilots rating in a seaplane at the age of 15. He devoted much of his spare time to building, rebuilding airplanes, and enjoyed flying each one of them. He was also an active member of the Vero Beach Aerodrome community.

Bill and Charlotte, owned and operated Ford Wire & Cable Corporation in Roseland, Florida until 2010, when they retired. His business career began in sales after the military and grew to include purchasing his employer’s company, operating a Mooney aircraft dealership, and developing an industrial park with a taxiway to the runways at Barnes Airport in Westfield, Massachusetts.

He enjoyed travel, taking many trips across the U.S. and abroad with his wife and friends.

Bill is survived by his children, Deborah. G. Ford of Vero Beach, Laurie Ford Russelburg of Dallas, Texas, and Stephen J. Ford of Naples, Florida. He was

predeceased by his wife, Charlotte and his son, Dale W. Ford of Vero Beach. He also survived by eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

A memorial service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at a future date to be set by his family.