Charles “Johnny” Stafford
Charles “Johnny” Stafford, a long time resident of Oklahoma City, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2020 at home.
Johnny was born July 13, 1939 in Holdenville to John W and Juanita (Hampton) Stafford. He attended Yeager Schools and graduated from Holdenville High School in 1958, where he lettered in football, played basketball and was a member of FFA.
Johnny also played baseball for the American Legion and attended major league training camp for the St. Louis Cardinals. After his return, he attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, before enlisting in the Army National Guard of Oklahoma in January 1961. He moved to Moore, Oklahoma and served until January 1965.
Johnny worked for Lone Star Brewery in Oklahoma City, where he met Anita (Mott) Newberry. They married in 1964 and lived in Moore, where they raised their four children. He returned to his passion for baseball by coaching for American Legion and several local youth teams in Moore.
After Lone Star closed in 1971, he worked for Ralston Purina Company for many years and then for Orkin Pest Control.
He had a love of the outdoors, and loved to spend summers at the lake, camping, and boating while teaching the kids to ski. Summer was also occupied with manicuring his lawn and growing vegetables in his garden. He was also a master at grilling his specialties of steak and West Texas hamburgers with the peppers from his garden. In the winter, he enjoyed deer and bird hunting with friends and family.
The final season of Johnny’s life was spent owning and operating Astro Fence and Iron Company.
Johnny is survived by his daughter, Cynthia and husband Chris Womack of Moore; grandchildren Madyson, Whitney and Caleb Womack of Moore; two brothers, Jackie and wife Beverly Stafford of Moore, and Ronnie Stafford of Holdenville; along with many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his parent; former wife Anita Stafford; daughter Kathy Pollard; and siblings Dub Stafford, Winona Rinkle, Alma Moon, Marie Burkhart, Billy Stafford, Barbara Deason, Harvey Stafford, and Virginia Smith.
Graveside service was held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 21 st , at Holdenville, Cemetery.
Services were under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home in Holdenville, Oklahoma.