Martin Winter Ford passed away peacefully at age 94 on Nov. 15, 2025, in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Memories of his baritone, British-accented voice declaring, “I’ve had a WONDERFUL life!” comfort his family at this sad time.
Martin was born on Aug. 23, 1931, in Bristol, England to Robert J. and Kathleen L. (Blandford) Ford. He grew up in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, southeast of London. When Germany began the bombing blitz of London in 1940, Martin recalled many nights spent in the air raid shelter built in the backyard. (And becoming proficient at identifying wartime aircraft and ‘doodlebugs’).
At age 17 1/2, Martin joined the Royal Artillery, eventually being accepted to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. After a three year tour of duty in Singapore, he began flight training with the Air Observation Post, ultimately being stationed with an AOP squadron in Detmold, West Germany.
It was in Detmold, at the end of 1955, that Martin met the love of his life, Hilary, a recently graduated British nurse spending the Christmas holidays in Germany with a friend. After seven months of courtship-via-letter, Hilary and Martin were married in Bantry, Ireland in August 1956, the beginning of a 68-year union treasured by both.
After 12 years with the British Army, Martin enjoyed a 35-year career with Howard Rotavator, a British farm machinery firm. He managed export sales in Durban, South Africa and then was moved to their US headquarters in Harvard, Illinois. He oversaw the opening of a manufacturing facility for Howard machinery in Muscoda, and ended his professional career as the owner of HR Parts, supplying spare parts for Howard equipment in the U.S.
Martin and Hilary lived in Fontana for ten years before building a home in rural Walworth Township. They purchased an unproductive pasture, built the home, and embarked on a lifelong journey of restoring the native prairie and hardwoods, monitoring bluebird boxes, and hiking the trails—always with a dog at their side.
One of Martin’s favorite pastimes was sailing. He joined the Lake Geneva Yacht Club in 1970 and raced small inland lakes sailboats for many years. He served as commodore of the LGYC from 1980 to 1982, and then enjoyed officiating races on Lake Geneva and around the Midwest. He was especially proud of the opportunity to be a Principal Race Officer at the 1999 Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland, New Zealand to determine the challenger for the 2000 America’s Cup.
After Martin and Hilary both retired, they enjoyed traveling in their motor home. On one of those adventures, they fell in love with Door County and made the decision to relocate from southern Wisconsin. Martin treasured their years there, especially the dear friends they made at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and in the Ellison Bay community.
Martin is survived by his daughter Deborah of Ellison Bay; son Christopher (Alison Hill) of Harbor Springs, Michigan; and son Richard (Julie) of Walworth. His beloved grandchildren William, Nicholas, Jasmine, and Vivian also survive him. He was predeceased by his son Geoffrey (1964-1968), and by his wife, Hilary, in 2025.
Martin’s family is so very grateful for the compassionate care provided by the staff of Pineview Cottage in Harbor Springs, and his AdvisaCare Hospice team.
A celebration of life for Martin and Hilary is being planned for the summer of 2026 at their property in Walworth. If you would like to remember Martin, his family suggests memorial contributions to Door County Land Trust, P.O. Box 65, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 54235; or Geneva Lake Sailing School, 1250 South Lake Shore Drive, Fontana, Wisconsin, 53125 or www.glss.org/donations.