Mich. postal worker retires after 44 perfect years

DETROIT (AP) -- U.S. Postal Service officials are putting their stamp of approval on a Detroit woman's perfect career.

Deborah Ford, 64, retired this week after logging 44 years of service without having taken a single sick day. That is just short of 11,000 workdays.

She used vacation time for doctor's appointments, and whenever she didn't feel well, "I'd shake it off," Ford said.

"You know what we say -- rain, sleet or snow" can't stop the U.S. mail, "and that's what I live by. I'm coming in," Ford said.

Chuck Howe, the postal service's manager who oversees the Detroit district and its more than 13,000 employees in Michigan's eastern half, called Ford's service "amazing and remarkable."

He presented her with a special retirement proclamation during a surprise send-off luncheon Wednesday.

Under the civil service formula, Ford will receive a 5 percent increase in her pension for the unused sick days, postal spokesman Ed Moore said.

Ford worked at Detroit's main post office on West Fort Street, where her job appropriately involved logging time cards and keeping attendance records.

The crowd at Ford's party hooted and applauded. She smiled and told them she would miss them.

"It's been my honor to serve the postal system all these years," Ford said. "You don't miss the brick and mortar, but you certainly miss the people."