Jack Stafford Obituary, Death – On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Jack D. Stafford, who was 86 years old and lived in Princeton, West Virginia, passed away while his family was by his side. His birth took place at Princeton, West Virginia, on April 19th, 1936.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carol B. Stafford; his children, Staci Thomas (Tripper) of Bluefield, WV, John Stafford (JoAnne) of Ghent, WV, and daughter Susan also of Ghent, WV; three grandchildren, Caroline Borden Samples (Caleb) of Hurricane, WV, Drew Stafford and Noah Stafford of Ghent, WV; and his brother William P. Stafford of Princeton, WV. His parents, Mr. and Ms. E.L.
Stafford, as well as his brother, G. Michael Stafford, and sister, Phyllis Stafford, all passed away before he did. Jack earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from North Carolina State University in 1959 and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from Concord University in 1959. In addition, he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and graduated from Princeton High School in 1954.
Work experience includes positions as a Research and Development Engineer with Celanese Corporation – Chief of Quality Assurance and Engineering, North American Aviation Assistant Commissioner with the West Virginia State Road Commission, Vice President of Gates Engineering Company in Beckley, West Virginia, and founder of Stafford Consultants Inc., where he served as Chairman, President, and CEO until his retirement in 2004.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Princeton, West Virginia for his entire life. In addition, he was a member of the Rotary Club in Princeton, West Virginia, where he was President in 1988–1989, Rotarian of the Year, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Advisory boards of Concord University and Bluefield State University, in addition to serving on the Advisory board of the school of Engineering at West Virginia University.
On Monday, January 16, 2023, at one o’clock in the afternoon, a funeral service will be performed at the Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton. The Reverend Tom McDowell will preside over the ceremony. The funeral will end with the interment of ashes at Pisgah Cemetery in Princeton, where the deceased’s nephews will act as bearers of the casket. On Monday, family and friends are welcome to call at the funeral home between the hours of 12:00 PM and the start of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building and Improvement fund at 100 Center Street Princeton, West Virginia 24740 or to the Princeton Rescue Squad at 701 Stafford Drive Princeton, West Virginia 24740. Both of these addresses can be found in the city’s yellow pages.