DOVER - Ethel L. Ford, 80, of Dover, died peacefully Aug. 6, 2010, at her home. She was born on March 20, 1930, in Conway, S.C., and was the first of four children of the late Nemiah and Lula Best Jones. Ethel, a graduate of Benedict College, majored in elementary education and psychology. While at school she participated in sports where she played basketball. She had a passion for teaching children and a desire to provide them with the direction needed so as they could learn and grow to be informed adults. She married her college sweetheart, Melvin Ford, on May 31, 1952, and the couple remained married for 50 years until his death on July 7, 2002. Ethel had been a loving and supportive military wife and was a dedicated mother and grandmother. Her natural talent for teaching and directing children was an inspiration. She was a loved Sunday School Teacher at the Capitol Baptist Church where her engaging smile that touched so many lives will be greatly missed. Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Evelyn in June 1960. Ethel is survived by four loving children, Wanda Ford-Waring and husband Jerry of Dover, Cheryl L. Grobel and husband Stephen of York County, Va., Melvin B. Ford Jr. and wife Ruth of Copperas Cove, Texas, and Kenneth N. Ford of Baltimore, Md.; one brother, Billie Jones, of Baltimore, Md.; and two sisters, Rosemarie "Jean" Jones and Beverly Jones, both of Baltimore, Md. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Melanie Ford-Turner of Copperas Cove, Texas, Brandon Cook of Los Angeles, Calif., and Evelyn Ford of Copperas Cove, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Aiden Turner, and Orion Cook; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and close friends. A visitation will be held Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, 1175 S. State Street, Dover. Services will be held Monday, 11 a.m. at the Capitol Baptist Church, 401 Kesselring Ave, Dover. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. Family suggests donations in her memory to Heartland Hospice Services, the Stockton Building, 261 Chapman Road, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702. Condolences may be forwarded and Guest Book signed via www.ambruso.com.