Randle Leon Ford

Randle Leon Ford, 94, of Valley, AL, formerly of Monroe County, KY, passed away Friday, November 18th in Valley, AL.

 

Leon was born in Tompkinsville, KY on January 8, 1928, a son of the late Roxie (Proffitt) Ford Rogerson and James Felin Ford.

 

In 1953, he married Jewell Dean "Dit" (Baker) Ford in Tallahassee, AL. Dit preceded him in death on December 23, 2016. 

 

Leon was a graduate of Tompkinsville High School class of 1946, where he was remembered for being a basketball star. After graduation he went to the University of Louisville were he played two seasons for the Louisville Cardinals. He then started his basketball coaching career, where he has coached at University of Tennessee Chattanooga, University of Tennessee, Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Al. and at Monticello High School in Monticello, KY After 30 years of coaching he retired with a impressive winning career. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Valley, AL. He was proudly a United States Navy Veteran. He was inducted into Chattanooga Hall of Fame and  Monroe County Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding career. 

 

Leon is survived by a daughter, Angela Ward, and Bill, of Valley, AL;  a son, Randle Leon "Randy" Ford, and wife, Lyn Sedlack Ford, of Camas, WA;  three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

 

Leon is also survived by a sister, Demetra Finley, of Tompkisnville, KY and a brother, Larry  Ford, of Florida. 

 

Other than his wife, Jewell Dean "Dit" Ford and parents, Roxie Ford Rogerson and James Felin Ford, he is preceded in death by a brother, James Ted Ford and a brother-in-law, James Cleo "Jim" Finley, Sr.

 

Funeral Services will be held at Yokley Trible Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 22nd at 12 noon with James "Jimbo" Finley officiating the service. Visitation will be after 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon on Tuesday at Yokley Trible Funeral Home. 

 

Burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Leon are suggested to the  Leon Ford athletic scholarship at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga