Eleanor "Ellie" Ford, a woman of remarkable strength, athletic prowess, and an enduring love for her family, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, following a courageous, lifelong battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on February 27, 1950, to James W. Ford, Sr. and Marie Ackerman Ford, Ellie was a proud graduate of Christ Our King School and Padua Academy (Class of 1968). She dedicated her professional life to Hercules, where she served as a Senior Transportation Specialist until her retirement.

Ellie was a trailblazing athlete. From winning MVP awards in industrial basketball leagues to being ranked 5th nationally in junior doubles tennis in the late 1960s, she was a fierce competitor through and through. In 1966, she became the Delaware State Junior Golf Champion. That same year, she made history as the youngest golfer and the only female to eagle the Par 5 15th hole at the old Hercules Country Club-winning the M.G. Milligan Trophy and setting a record that remains unbroken today.

Though diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1977, Ellie refused to let the disease define her. After numerous surgeries and ten artificial joints, she triumphantly returned to the golf course after a 30-year hiatus, eventually securing her first Hole-in-One in 2005. Her resilience was officially recognized in 2015 when she received the Delaware Women's Alliance for Sport & Fitness Wilma Rudolph Courage award.

Ellie's greatest joy was her 50-year partnership with her wife, Janice K. Zaremba. The two were legally married in Delaware on April 5, 2014. Together, they built a life filled with laughter and hospitality, first in Newark and later in Rehoboth Beach.

Their home was always a hub for family, filled with the energy of nieces, nephews, and Ellie's beloved Yorkies, whom she adored and cared for throughout her life. Whether she was hosting pool parties, playing a game of dice, or cheering on the next generation of athletes, Ellie's presence was a gift to those around her.

She is survived by her devoted wife, Janice; her sisters-in-law, Vera Ford, Ann Ford, and Ronnie Ferrari (Angelo); and a legacy of nieces and nephews: Paul Ford Jr., Brian Ford, Erin Sicuranza (Michael), Michael Ford (Erin), Tommy Ford (Brittney), Jaime Phelan (Chris), Jessica Neale (Kevin), and Angelo Ferrari, Jr., along with a host of great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, James W. Ford, Jr. and Paul L. Ford, Sr., and niece, Christina Ferrari Wipf.

Funeral services will be held at the Mealey Funeral Home, 2509 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M., followed immediately by a Celebration of Life service. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ellie's memory to Faithful Friends Animal Society (Delaware) or the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).