Mary Ellen Ford

Mary Ellen Ford, 86, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Cornwall Manor. Born November 27, 1937 in Columbia, PA Mary Ellen was the daughter of the late Roy J. Keiser, Sr and Nora Keiser. She was preceded in death by her late husband Arthur Ford, Jr., who passed in 2022. She is survived by her 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 Joseph, Ryan Neiswender, spouse of Lauren, Michael Gress, Jr., Aaron Gress, Samantha Gress; and a great grandson, Rowan Sirriannia. She was preceded in death by a sister, Isabel Kirchner, and a brother, Roy Keiser, Jr. After graduating from Columbia High School, Mary Ellen worked for several years for The Columbia News in advertising and then spent the next eighteen years raising her family. She then worked 15 years for the Lebanon County Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and, until her retirement in 2002, worked as a coordinator of Lebanon Valley College’s Kreiderheim guesthouse and conference center. She was a member of the Annville United Methodist Church. Following her retirement Mary Ellen volunteered with the Lebanon Family Health organization, Meals on Wheels, and the Hershey Theater. She was also on several committees of Lebanon Valley College and the Annville United Methodist Church. Mary Ellen lived with her husband and children in Cambridge England during the 1972-73 year where her husband was affiliated with the University of Cambridge. She and her husband lived in Damascus, Syria during the 1984-85 year where Art was a Fulbright lecturer and during the 1988-89 school year at the University of Nanjing, China where he taught, also in the Fulbright program. While at Nanjing Mary Ellen taught English as a Second Language. During the first semester of the 2000-01 school year she and her husband served as directors of LVC’s study abroad program in London, England. Following her retirement Mary Ellen enjoyed spending March with her husband at the Phillies Spring Training center in Clearwater, Florida and walking along the shore at Clearwater Beach. Beloved by all who knew her, she prized most of all her time with her children and grandchildren, supporting them at all their scholastic, sports, and cultural events. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lebanon Valley College or Cornwall Manor. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 10:30AM at the chapel at Cornwall Manor, 1 Boyd Street, Cornwall. Interment will be held privately. There will be a time of visitation from 10AM until 10:30AM at the chapel.

Mary Ellen Ford

November 27, 1937 - October 19, 2024