Arthur Lewis Ford, Jr.

May 6, 1937 - April 12, 2022

Arthur Lewis Ford, Jr. (84) passed away on Tuesday April 12, 2022 at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. Art was born May 6, 1937 in Columbia, PA and was the son of the late Arthur Lewis Ford, Sr. and Nellie Logan Ford. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Monte Dale Ford. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Keiser Ford; a sister-in-law, June Ford; three daughters, Penny Nechanicky, spouse of Jeff, Peggy Neiswender, spouse of Daryl, and Jean Gress, spouse of Michael, six grandchildren, Meegan Schuckers, Lauren Sirriannia, spouse of Joey, Ryan Neiswender, spouse of Lauren, Michael Gress, Jr., Aaron Gress, and Samantha Gress. A graduate of Columbia High School, Art received his B.A. degree from Lebanon Valley College and his Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University. He taught in the English Department at Heidelberg College in Ohio for four years before returning to LVC in 1965 where he taught in the English Department and served as Dean of International Programs until his retirement in 2001. Art, his wife, and children, lived in Cambridge England during the 1972-73 year where he was a visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge. He and Mary Ellen then lived in Damascus, Syria during the 1984-85 year where he was a Fulbright lecturer and then at the University of Nanjing, China, where he taught, also in the Fulbright program. During the first semester of the 2000-01 year he and Mary Ellen served as directors of LVC’s study abroad program in London, England. Among Art’s publications are three academic books and numerous articles. He also wrote Cinderella and the Seven Dwarfs, the story of LVC’s 1952-53 basketball team as it went to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, the smallest school to advance that far. After his retirement he wrote two novels, Shunned, and The Offer, a fictionalized account of his and his wife’s travels and time living abroad. Art was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Columbia High School and received an Alumnus Citation Award from Lebanon Valley College. He was also made an Honorary Fellow at Cambridge Ruskin University in England. An avid Philadelphia Phillies fan Art enjoyed spending March at the Phillies Spring Training center in Clearwater Florida. He also enjoyed playing softball throughout his life, joining LVC faculty and students in Friday afternoon basketball games, and shooting pool with the Annville Billiards Club. His greatest enjoyment, however, was following the various activities over the years of his children and then his grandchildren. In accordance with Art’s wishes, and because of his beliefs with teaching and education, he has chosen to donate his body to science for the education and benefit of others. A service celebrating his life will be held on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 11AM from Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 618 E. Main Street, Annville. There will be a visitation with the family from 10AM until 11AM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers send memorial contributions to Lebanon Valley College.