Alfred Louis Stratford

Alfred Louis Stratford RICHMOND, VA - Alfred Louis Stratford, 80, died peacefully in his home on April 12, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Catherine Carson Stratford; his son Alfred Lafayette Stratford III and his wife, Karin; daughter Carson Valentine Lankau, and her husband, Paul. He is further survived by the joy and pride of his life, his four grandchildren, Kelsey Lillian Stratford, Ellen Grace Stratford, Lindsay Catherine Lankau, and Alfred Lafayette Stratford IV. Al attended nearly every prep school on the east coast, including St. Christopher's, Bullis Academy, in Washington, DC, and Christchurch School. His college experiences included, but were not limited to, Virginia Commonwealth University, The College of William & Mary and six years at Sewanee. He was a proud veteran of the armed services, having served two years of active duty in the Military Police in Verdun, France. He was an avid "car guy", having owned and repaired all manner of cars-foreign and domestic, including an Alfa Romeo, an Austin Healey, more than one Jaguar, a 1957 Corvette, and more. He owned several boats over the years, and enjoyed exploring the Chesapeake Bay and the waterways around Charleston harbor, before later in life returning to riding motorcycles. In retirement, the motorcycles gave way to scooters, one for each home. His greatest joy truly was his family, and dividing his time between two homes in Richmond, and Mt. Pleasant, SC, in an attempt to set a participation record at swim meets, volleyball games, basketball games, lacrosse games, and track and field events watching his grandchildren. Al was a dog lover all of his life, and memorial contributions may be made to Animal Medical Clinic of Goose Creek, SC, www.amcgoose.com, Calvert K-9 Search Team, www.calvertk9search.org, or the Richmond SPCA, www.richmondspca.org. A private family service will be held at a later date. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston