William A. “Art” Stafford, Jr.

William Arthur "Art" Stafford, Jr., 88 of Tipton died at 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at Miller's Merry Manor in Tipton. He was born in Tipton County on June 3, 1926 to William Arthur and Mary Gladys (Ulm) Stafford. He married Juanita Fenn on January 15, 1952 and she survives.

Art was a farmer and had driven a school bus in Taylor Township for many years. He was a member of the Sharpsville United Methodist Church, the American Legion in Tipton and the Naphtali Masonic Lodge Freemasons in Center, Indiana.

Art served his country in WWII as a heavy truck driver. He saw action in the Rhineland and Central European battles and campaigns. Art received many distinguished honors to include the WWII Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, Army of Occupation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He later received the Bronze Star. His service career was under General Patton.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita, daughters Debbie Kay Hardy and husband Ron of Centennial, Colorado and Marcia Mae Jones and husband Richard of Sharpsville. Grandchildren include Samantha Stephens, Alena Stephens (Jarett Biesecker), Jennifer Eavey and husband James, Ryan Hardy, Casey Jones and wife Shannon, Jessica Jones, and Tonya Jones (James Bricknell). Art has six great-grandchildren; Logan Hetzner-Stephens (Meghan Collier), Bodhi Sagarsee, Ariyeh Guy, Aislinn Biesecker, Olwyn Biesecker, and Darshan Dempsey. He is also survived by three siblings, Betty Reynolds of Sarasota, Florida, Martha Smith and husband Richard of Anderson, and Libby Riggs and husband Dale of Indianapolis, and sisters-in-law Eunice Stafford of Tipton and Mona Stafford of Kokomo.

He was preceded in death by his sister Nellie Hartwick and brothers John, Herman, Gerald and Robert, and brother-in-law Lewis Reynolds.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2015 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home with Revs. Amy Pritchard and Kent Dunn presiding. Burial will follow at Kempton Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with a Masonic service at 5:30 p.m..

Memorial donations may be made to the FFA chapter at Tipton High School, 619 S. Main St. Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or the Sharpsville United Methodist Church, 228 W. Meridian St., Sharpsville, Indiana, 46068.