Squire Jefferson Ford, II

Squire Jefferson Ford II, 52, of Statesville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Gordon Hospice House.

Squire was born on December 13, 1973, and was the son of the late Janis Cranford Ford and George Patton "Pat" Ford, who survives.

From the moment he entered the world, Squire's life was marked by determination and resilience. He was born covered with red, sore-like spots, and his pediatrician believed he had one of three forms of childhood cancer, predicting that he would not live to see his second birthday. Refusing to accept that devastating prognosis, his family sought additional medical opinions and discovered that the illness was, in fact, a severe case of chickenpox after he had been exposed just ten days before his birth. That early challenge became the first of many obstacles Squire would overcome.

Growing up, Squire accompanied his family to stock car races on Saturday nights, where he developed a lifelong passion for racing. At the age of 12, he began competing on the World Karting Association circuit and finished fourth in the WKA Dirt Series. By age 15, before he was eligible for a NASCAR license, he ventured onto outlaw dirt tracks to continue pursuing his dream. During the 1991–1992 racing season, Squire quickly became both a racer and fan favorite. At just 17 years old, he became the youngest driver to win a feature race and earned "Rookie of the Year" honors. He raced competitively against drivers much older and more experienced than himself, and in 1992, he became the youngest driver to capture a track championship. His accomplishments extended beyond the racetrack when a Charlotte television station recognized him as its "Athlete of the Week," highlighting not only his racing success but also his commitment to academics as an honor roll student.

After graduating from high school, Squire chose to further his education, putting his racing career on hold while attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Following graduation, he began his professional career with Golden Gait Trailer Sales in Charlotte.

In September 2000, Squire made the selfless decision to join the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The following month, tragedy struck when his youngest sister, Brett Patton Ford, was killed by a drunk driver. Rather than allowing grief to define him, Squire became even more determined to help others. Soon afterward, he learned that he was a perfect bone marrow match for a patient somewhere in the United States. His donation gave the recipient renewed hope and improved health for a time. Eight months later, as he prepared to donate again, Squire received the heartbreaking news that the recipient had passed away. Although he never learned the person's identity, the loss affected him deeply, feeling as though he had lost another member of his own family. His willingness to give so selflessly reflected the compassion, generosity, and servant's heart that defined his life.

Those left to cherish Squire’s memory are his father, George Patton “Pat” Ford; sister, Chelsea Ford Case (Kevin); nephew, Jefferson Xavier Case; niece, Elizabeth Patton Case; special cousin, Tammy Nichols (Bobby); uncle, Jim Cranford (Pat); cousins, Bradley Rhyne, Chad (Charlotte) and Shannon (Rick).

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, July 13 in the Troutman Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. David Troutman officiating. The family will visit with friends prior to the service from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville NC 28625.

Arrangements for Squire are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.