Roy "Gene" Ford, Age 82, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at the Foley Center in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Gene was born on June 22, 1943 to the late William Marcus Ford Sr. and Mary Gertrude Hartley Ford in Watauga County, North Carolina.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Linda Tolbert Ford; brother, William Ford Jr.; and sister, Priscilla Ford Marlow.

Those left to cherish his memory include sons, Jerome I. Ford (Maria) and Reginald K. Ford (Marla) both of Lenoir; grandchildren, Colby Ford, Dyson Ford, and Dalton Ford; mother in law, Edna Harmon Tolbert; and special friend and caregiver, Brenda Bentley.

Gene was a faithful member and deacon of Pisgah Baptist Church.

Services for Gene will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM at Pisgah Baptist Church with Rev. Cody Shew officiating.

Family will receive friends two hours prior to the service from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the church.

Burial will follow at Bailey's Camp Baptist Church Cemetery in Blackberry.

Serving as pallbearers will be Shane Ellison, Darren Phillips, Patrick Andrews, Keith Messer, Jason Morgan, Jeremiah Annas, Todd Triplett, and Donald Tolbert.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Money, Bruce Walker, and Raymond Sherrill.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Pisgah Baptist Church: 2665 Pisgah Church Road, Lenoir, NC 28645

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Gene Ford.