Stafford Gray of Lompoc passed on to the Lord on February 13th after a long illness at the Lompoc Convalescent Care Center.

Stafford was born in Slemp, Kentucky on February 1, 1928. He grew up and attended schools in the Hazard County area. After he joined the Army and subsequently transferred to the Air Force, he completed an AA Degree at Allan Hancock College.

He met his wife Bonnie while he was stationed at Camp Cooke. They married in July 1952 and as a family traveled to Germany where their daughter, Debbie, was born. He served during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He was stationed in a variety of countries including Japan, Korea, French Morocco and Okinawa. Stateside he served at Tacoma, Washington; Roswell, New Mexico and Vandenberg Air Force Base.

He retired from the US Air Force in 1970 after 22 years of service with a rank of Tech Sergeant. After his military retirement, he was employed by ITT Federal Electric at Vandenberg Air Force Base in logistics and retired in 1990.

Following his retirement, he was able to make numerous trips to his beloved Kentucky where he was able to go fishing and hunting with his brothers. When they got together, they had a hilarious time reminiscing and coming up with pranks to pull on one another. There was never a dull moment when they got together. He also made many trips to Florida to visit his daughter and grandchildren.

Stafford was a member of Lompoc Elks Order 2274 and the American Legion Post 211. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bonnie Milligan Gray, his daughter Debra McCormick and her husband Clay, grandsons Bryan Garbiso, Jeffrey Garbiso and his wife Amber, granddaughter Jamie Davis and her husband Javier, and great-grandson Kadin Garbiso, all of Cocoa, Florida.

His wife, daughter and grandchildren were the love of his life. They were all by his side the last week of his life.

He is also survived by brothers Robert Gray of Louisville, Kentucky; Mitchell Gray of Cornettsville, Kentucky; Herbert Gray of Austin, Indiana; and sisters Betty Lou Fox of Hamilton, Ohio; Louise Campbell of Cornettsville, Kentucky; Beatrice Dixon of Frankfort, Kentucky and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside military service will be held at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery on Tuesday, February 19 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor John Rell of Peace Lutheran Church officiating.

Donations in Stafford's memory can be made to the Lompoc Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 883, Lompoc, CA 93438.

Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.