of Mountain Home, AR
September 25, 1931 - October 27, 2022
Elba Gene Stafford died peacefully on October 27, 2022 at Hospice of the Ozarks in Mountain Home, AR. Elba was born September 25, 1931 to Luell and Mary Stafford in Amos, AR. He married Joan Lucille Flynn at St. Thomas Church on June 25, 1955 in Oroville, CA.
Elba graduated from Chico State College in CA with a major in Physical Education. He was class president his sophomore, junior and senior years and lettered in baseball all four years. Elba served in the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corp during the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. Following discharge, he taught at Oroville High School in Oroville, CA, before completing a Master's degree in Education at Chico State College. He went on to University of Oregon in Eugene, OR and graduated with a doctorate in Physical Education. Elba was on the faculty at University of Oregon (Eugene, OR), University of Wisconsin (Superior, WI and Madison, WI), Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) and University of Texas-Arlington (Arlington, TX) before retiring to Mountain Home, AR.
Elba had a lifelong passion for education and ensured his children reached their potential with all completing college and launching successful careers. He also mentored many graduate students during his tenure at the universities and led cooperative programs with universities in Nicaragua, Mexico and China to share advances in Physical Education teaching methods.
Elba was preceded in death by his wife, Joan and one sister and one brother. He is survived by one sister, Ima Pearce (Orangevale, CA); children, Colleen Stafford (Mountain Home, AR), Randall (Gayle) Stafford (Columbus, IN), Richard (Siu Wong) Stafford (Annandale, VA), Claire (Stephen) Baker (Palatine, IL), John (Barbara) Stafford (Ames, IA), Debbie (Wayne Goodall) Iversen (Wellington, NZ); ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 7, 2022 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Roller Funeral Home, 25 County Road 27, Mountain Home, AR. Funeral will be held at 11:00 am at St Peter the Fisherman Parish Church, 249 Dyer St, Mountain Home, AR. Interment will follow the service at Promise Land Cemetery on Promise Land Road, Mountain Home, AR.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Hospice of the Ozarks, 701 Burnett Drive, Mountain Home AR, 72653
Sign Guestbook
10 Condolence(s)
Victoria Robelo
Friday, November 25, 2022
To all the Stafford family, Please accept my deepest sympathy for your lost. Mr. Stafford was a great human being and I always remember him and Mrs. Stafford for their kindness. Wish you peace and acceptance in this difficult time.
Dan and Rainu Pierce
Friday, November 18, 2022
Our deepest sympathies to you, Stafford family - Colleen, Randy, John, Richard and Claire.. You are so blessed to have Elbe as your dad. Knowing you all surely Elbe has left a legacy of love. We knew Elbe as a gentle person of peace.
The video was heart warming. What a tribute to a great man...
The Ferraras
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Dearest Claire,
Our deepest sympathies and prayers for you and your family. God gained another angel.
The Ferrara Family
John and Linda Hancock
Monday, November 7, 2022
So sorry for your loss.
Praying for comfort and peace.
Aleksey Yezerets
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Our deepest condolences to Randy and Gayle Stafford, and to the entire family... May your father's memory be for a blessing.
We have separately sent a virtual sympathy card from many of Randy's former colleagues at Cummins Research & Technology.
Susan Havens
Monday, October 31, 2022
Colleen, Your father was a delight to care for during my tenure with Home Instead. We had many long walks and interesting conversations. You have my prayers and condolences in his passing. He will be missed.
Alejandro Contreras Becerra
Monday, October 31, 2022
Dear Randy,
It is sad to hear about the loss of your father. Hope you find resignation and conform soon.
My deepest condolences.
Alex.
Mike Cunningham
Monday, October 31, 2022
Dear Randy and family,
I was very sorry to hear about the loss of your father. I recall your many trips out to Arkansas to visit with him and help him out, and I know how important family is to all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carl McDonald
Monday, October 31, 2022
Our deepest sympathies. We will we keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Carl and Yolunda McDonald
Yuhui Zha
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Dear Randy,
Sorry to hear your loss of father. Thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort as you have the memory of your father who was so close to you.
Best wishes
Yuhui Zha