July 14, 1913 - December 26, 2006

Mrs. Betty Ford issued the following statement from her home in Rancho Mirage, California:

"My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald R. Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, has passed away at 93 years of age. His was a life filled with love of God, his family, and his country."

President Ford was a member of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California by right of descent from Private Ezra Chase who served as a Minuteman on the Alarm of April 19, 1775 to Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Private Chase was a member of Captain Ebenezer Colby's Company, Colonel Johnson's Regiment, Massachusetts Militia. Members of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California join in extending our condolences to the Ford Family.

An Eagle Scout, the former President received an A. B. from the University of Michigan in 1935 and was conferred a LL.B. at Yale University in 1941. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Mr. Ford was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1949 and went on to serve as Minority Leader of the House from 1965 to 1973 when he was appointed Vice President of the United States.  He became the 38th President of the United States upon the resignation of Richard M. Nixon in 1974.

President Ford's family requests that contributions be made to the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Memorial Fund. This request includes donations in lieu of flowers. Information about the memorial contributions and the way you can send a message of condolence to the Ford family can be found at www.GeraldFordMemorial.com.

For information about how you can send a message of condolence to the Ford family, click here: Condolence Book.