William Horatio Stafford

William Horatio Stafford

Shelburne, MA - William Horatio Stafford died at Baystate Franklin Medical Center on January 10, 2025 after a brief period of declining health.

Bill was a warm, generous, and open-hearted man who worked hard and skillfully, took pride in having served his country in wartime, and cared deeply about his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, solving puzzles, watching sports, helping others, woodworking, and reading. Bill was a big-framed man who was light on his feet, carrying himself like an athlete; he was gregarious, funny, competitive, opinionated, and confident, usually striding into a room with aplomb and a puckish twinkle in his eyes. He demonstrated love, care, and commitment primarily by showing up for others: with a shovel or chainsaw or lawnmower for a DIY weekend; with attentive enthusiasm at a high school game or dance performance; with curiosity and excitement about another's plans; with a hug and a kind word in difficult times. Bill loved being the patriarch of a dispersed blended family and, most importantly, being a devoted partner and loving husband to Brenda, his wife of thirty-nine years.

Bill was born on February 6, 1940 in Charlemont, the younger of two children born to Grace (Stacy) and W. Payson Stafford. He attended local schools and graduated from Charlemont High School in 1958, having distinguished himself as a star athlete and something of a rascal.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1964 and attained the rank of Captain before being honorably discharged in 1973. He served in Viet Nam, where he saw combat and had experiences that he rarely discussed as a civilian but were clearly impactful; he was also stationed in Germany, Taiwan, and other Army bases. Bill was proud of having served his country in this way and of his Veteran status.

Bill was married three times, his first two marriages ending in divorce: first, to his high school sweetheart, Mary Lively; then, after his Army service, he settled in Richmond, Virginia, where he married Betty Umble Kirby, treating her two daughters from a previous marriage as his own. After his second marriage ended, Bill moved back to Massachusetts.

In June 1985, he married Brenda (Herzig) Sumner and began their life together in Shelburne; Brenda embraced Bill's step-daughters-Tracy and Laurie Kirby, and stepson-in-law Daryl Bishop-and enjoyed visiting them in Virginia and Alabama over the years. Bill and Brenda hosted their blended and extended family for Thanksgiving each year and for memorable summer weeks at Old Orchard Beach. When not at their paid work, Brenda and Bill were inseparable: they enjoyed exercising at the Greenfield YMCA; going for car rides, helping their kids with house projects; babysitting grandchildren; attending dance performances and high school sporting events; visiting friends; spending time at the Corse family camp in Whitingham.

Bill's paid work often involved operating heavy machinery and included stints as a long-haul trucker, orchard hand, and highway department member; he ran a big Volvo loader for many years at Kramer's/WTE in Greenfield and enjoyed beating his own "personal best" times for filling railcars.

Bill is survived by his wife, Brenda; by his sister, Nancy Peck, and her husband, Harvey, of Shelburne; by his nieces Barbara Giguere and Janet Cross, both of Shelburne. By Brenda's children and their spouses: Todd Sumner (Mark Melchior) of Groton, MA; Eric Sumner (Mary) of Heath; and Ree Martin (Edward) of Northfield. By his step-daughter, Laurie Kirby, and her former husband, Daryl Bishop, of Virginia; by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; by his faithful friend Jack Cable of Springfield, Vermont. He was predeceased by his parents, Payson and Grace; by his step-daughter, Tracy Kirby Dunagan; and by his dear Dickinson cousins Esther, Ralph, and Howard.

The family would like to thank Bill's in-home caregivers, especially Rosie, Helen, Melissa, LeEllen, Dawn, and Virginia.

Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home is assisting the family. No funeral or memorial service is planned at this time, honoring Brenda and Bill's wish that joint services be held after both have passed away. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to The Heath Agricultural Society (Heath Fair), Greenfield YMCA, LifePath, or Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care.