Edwin M. Ford, 103, died peacefully Thursday April 29, 2021 at Golden Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Kingston. Ed was born in Highland, New York in 1918. His family moved to Kingston in 1928 where he attended Number 7 school on Crown Street and Kingston High School, graduating in the class of 1936. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 12 and earned the Eagle Scout distinction. He wanted to be a teacher so he went to New Paltz Normal School (SUNY New Paltz) and graduated in 1939. During World War II he served as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force, Weather Division headquarters.

While living in New York City, Ed met and married his wife Ruth in 1942. He returned to Kingston in 1949 and started Ford Printing with his brother Bill and continued operating the business until 1989. Ruth and Ed were two of the original founders of the Klyne-Esopus Historical Society Museum and were prime movers in saving the church from destruction. They were involved in church activities until Ruth's death in 2005.

Ed was instrumental in saving the old City Hall from being demolished. This, along with his love of Kingston, sparked his interest in the history of Kingston and its preservation. He was appointed City Historian by former Mayor Peter Mancuso in 1984 and continued in this position for thirty-five years until his retirement in 2019. In this role he gave frequent lectures to tour groups and local organizations and published two books, Kingston in 2004 and Street Whys in 2010. He served as an adjunct faculty member at Ulster County Community College for three years, teaching a course in local history.

He was president of Friends of Historic Kingston for two terms and was a board member for many years. He also served on the boards of the Salvation Army, the City of Kingston Community Development Commission, the Kingston Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Kingston Waterfront Commission, the Ulster County Historical Society, the Firemen's Museum and was chairman of the Old Dutch Church Heritage Museum for twenty-five years. He served as a deacon and elder at Old Dutch for many years as well.

He is survived by his son Alan and daughter-in-law Barbara Maisenhelder Ford, grandsons David and Michael, great granddaughter Ashley, his brother William Ford, sisters-in-law Mary Vandemark Cunningham and Renee Vandemark Miller and long-time companion Susan Hummel. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sister Ruth Van Deusen Ford (Herbert), his brother John Ford and his sister-in-law Thelma Vandemark Ford.

Friends will be received at Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, 27 Smith Avenue in Kingston, on Monday from 4-7 p.m.

A memorial service will take place Tuesday 10 a.m. at Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall Street in Kingston. Face coverings are required and social distancing may limit the capacity of the funeral home and church.

Live-streaming of the funeral service at the Old Dutch Church can be viewed at www.facebook.com/OldDutchChurch/.

Inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Stone Ridge.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to the Friends of Historic Kingston- PO Box 3763, Kingston New York 12402 or the Ed Ford Lunette Fund - 420 Broadway Kingston, NY 12401.