Maiden Name: Frieda Van Harreveld
Birth Date: 06/15/1937
Birth Place: Pasadena, California, USA
Date of Death: 09/05/2024
Place of Death: Vancouver, Washington, USA
Frieda Ford [nee Van Harreveld] passed away on September 5, 2024, at the age of 87, in Vancouver, Washington, where she and her husband Oscar “Ozzie” Ford moved in the spring of 2020. Frieda and Ozzie had been long-time residents of Carson City, residing there since 1968. While in Carson City, Frieda raised her three children, Becky, Vanessa and Dana. She became a teacher, then a realtor and finally a first class volunteer especially at the Carson Library. Ozzie and Frieda were founding members of the Carson Tennis Club. They travelled the world and were blessed with good health into their late 80’s. Frieda always had a winning smile and a positive outlook and she is missed by all.
Frieda was born on June 15, 1937 in Pasadena, California. She attended Pomona College and met the love of her life, Oscar “Ozzie” Ford, in German class. The happy couple married and moved to the east coast for Ozzie’s job at the Library of Congress, during which time Frieda graduated from George Washington University while starting their young family. After a short while, they moved back to Southern California and eventually to Carson City where they would live for the next 52 years.
Frieda and Ozzie loved Carson City and believed it to be the best place in the world to make a home and raise their three children, Rebecca, Vanessa and Dana. Frieda was a devoted wife and mother and together the family enjoyed all of the blessing of life in Nevada. The family especially relished time in the great outdoors and loved to ride bikes, hike, ski and play tennis. Frieda and Ozzie were founding members of the Carson Tennis Club and spent many weekends on the courts at Mills Park.
Frieda was a maker at heart – extremely creative, she was a talented seamstress and sewed everything from children’s clothing to Halloween costumes to home furnishings. She was an avid quilter and created many over the years, a master of color and pattern. She left behind a treasure trove of quilts for the future great grandchildren! She enjoyed working with stained glass, creating beautiful pieces that now adorn her children’s homes.
A homemaker while her children were young, Frieda eventually returned to school for her teaching credential and for a number of years taught both 1st and 3rd grade. After retiring from the classroom, Frieda earned her real estate license and began working at Caldwell Banker. She loved being a realtor, a job well suited for her eye for detail, her business-minded approach and most importantly, her positive energy.
Frieda was a devoted volunteer, sharing her time and talents at the Carson Library, the Browsers Corner, FISH, as well as narrating “talking books” for the visually impaired. She loved to read and always enjoyed a good mystery, consuming hundreds over the course of her lifetime.
Ozzie and Frieda loved to travel and enjoyed a number of trips to Europe over the years as well as extensive travel in the United States. Ozzie was a private pilot and served the Nevada Library system for 22 years so the couple literally had a “birds eye” view of the state.
Frieda was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ozzie, who passed away in spring 2021. The couple leaves behind daughters Rebecca and Vanessa, son Dana, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She will be remembered for many things, among which are her enthusiasm for life, her devotion to family, her beautiful smile, her unflagging optimism and her positive attitude.
Ozzie and Frieda Ford Lake Tahoe 2015
Dana, Frieda, Ozzie, Becky and Vanessa Ford 2015
Oscar and Frieda circa 1960
Oscar and Frieda at home in Carson City
