Laris Christine “Tena” Ford of Huntsville, AL passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the age of 86. Tena was born in Vinemont, AL on August 2, 1939, to Felix Christopher and Flois Itaska Drake.
Tena married Ronald Bruce Ford on January 4, 1964, and began her life as an Army wife. She spent years at Ft. Bliss, TX, Weber City, VA (while Bruce was stationed overseas) and several times at Redstone Arsenal, AL, their final duty station. Bruce and Tena were married for 53 years until Bruce’s passing in 2017.
Tena loved her church and her church family at Westlawn Baptist Church. She was active in Sunday School, choir, and she loved keeping the babies in the nursery as well as helping with VBS until her health began to deteriorate.
She loved spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bruce, along with her parents, her infant sister and her infant son, Larry.
Tena is survived by her children, Remonda Ann Prince (Judson), Steven Bruce Ford (Janet) and Michael David Ford (Marguerite); grandchildren, Nick, Luke (Samantha), Dustin (Karen), Britani, Greg and Ben; great-grandchildren, Margaret, Thomas, Astrid, Monica, Aiden, Simon, Amelia, Brody and Grayson; and her sister, Janis DeLorme (Terrell Freeman).
Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, with the service immediately following at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805. Burial will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Rd NE, Huntsville, AL, 35811.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Westlawn Baptist Church 2515 17th Street SW, Huntsville, AL 35805.
