Gerald B. Stafford

Gerald Barton Stafford, 82 of Kokomo died at 7:20 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2014 at Waterford Place Health Campus in Kokomo. He had lived in Lafayette; Lansing, Michigan 1956-1963; Kempton 1963-1975; Pendleton 1975-1994, and Kokomo from 1994 until present. Gerald was born September 12, 1931 in Tipton County to William A. & Mary Gladys (Ulm) Stafford. He married Mona Jones on April 15, 1953 and she survives.

He graduated from Tipton High School in 1949. Gerald served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1951-1953. He graduated in 1956 from Purdue University. He was the supervisor of the swine research farm at Michigan State University and was a farmer in both Tipton and Madison Counties. He retired in 1994. He was a member of Methodist churches in Lansing, Kempton, and Lapel. Gerald enjoyed gardening, tinkering with anything that was broken and supporting his grandchildren in their many interests.

He is survived by his wife Mona; three children, Janet Schick, Kokomo, Carla Mayer and husband Mark, Scottville, Michigan, Ellen Schick and husband Randy, Kokomo; eight grandchildren, Michelle Mayer and Quentin Green, Christina Mayer and fiancé Patrick Gleason, Meridith Mayer and fiancé Bradon Ingle, Megan Donelson and husband Derek, Jessica Graf and husband Ryan, Jacob Schick, Matthew Schick and wife Megan, and Jacqueline Schick; one great-grandson, Hayden Donelson.

He is also survived by three sisters, Martha Smith and husband Richard, Anderson, Elizabeth Riggs and husband Dale, Indianapolis, Betty Reynolds, Florida; a brother, Arthur Stafford and wife Juanita, Tipton; a sister-in-law, Eunice Stafford, Tipton. Gerald was preceded in death by a sister, Nellie Ogle; three brothers, John Stafford, Herman Stafford, and Robert Stafford; a son-in-law, Joe Schick.

His funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. P. Mark Hill presiding. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Tipton with military honors. Visitation will be from 12:00 Noon until time of the service Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois, 60674.