- Date Of Birth: December 30, 1929
- Date Of Death: April 02, 2024
- State: Virginia
Samual Frank Stafford, affectionately known to his loved ones, as “Sam, Sammy, Dad, Daddy, Papa, and Grandpa” passed from this earth and on to the afterlife on April 2, 2024. Born in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan on December 30, 1929, he traveled the world with the Navy for 22 years and passed peacefully at his home with loved ones in Suffolk, VA, which he called home in his later years.Son to the late Thomas William Stafford and Ethel Mae Stafford, he is also predeceased by his siblings Pauline Moll, Charles Stafford, Eveylen Blondeau Maebelle Brooks, Arlene Linda Sheppard, Thomas Stafford, and Clarence Stafford. He is survived by siblings Raymond Stafford and Irene Carolyn Thiele, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.In passing he has now joined his loving wife Lucy Romano Stafford with whom he built a robust and adoring family. Including his children Teresa (David) Frazier, Tom (Barbara) Stafford, John (Sharon) Stafford, and MaryAnn (Ray) McCarthy; his grandchildren, who were his world and who will hold fond memories of fishing and playing on the floor with him in their youth: Jennifer, Melissa, Kristina, Michael, Julie, Jessica, Sabrina, and Tabitha; and 11 great grandchildren.A veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, Sam retired as a Senior Chief Fire Control Technician. He was recipient of several Navy awards including the Navy Achievement Medal Combat V Commendation from Commander USN 7th Fleet, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, a Combat Action Ribbon-Vietnam, Navy Unit Commendation Bar, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross with Palm) as well as numerous other medals. He also received letters of Commendation from Commanding Officer, Rear Admiral Gene LaRocoue USN Commander Cruise Destroyer Flotilla 4 Department of Naval Weapons, Washington DC for his initiative and many other commendations. Following his Navy career, he worked as an X-Ray Service Engineer for Picker Medical Corp, as plant maintenance electrician for Birmingham Steel Plant, and later continued x-ray work when he formed Stafford Medical Engineering Inc.Sam was a lifetime member of the National Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, a past commander of the Charlottesville, VA, DAV, Member of the USS Robert A Owens Shipmate Association, The Tin Can Sailors Association, and a lifetime member of the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
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