John C. Stafford

John C. Stafford HERTFORD - John Clinton Stafford, 76, of the 100 block of Explorer Arch, died Feb. 9, 2009, in Branson, Mo. Mr. Stafford was born in South Norfolk, Va., and was the son of the late John Lucius and Margaret Lee "Maggie" Copeland Stafford. Educated in the South Norfolk public school system, at Elon College and at the Norfolk division of The College of William and Mary, he began his career in chemical processes at Virginia Chemicals in Portsmouth which later became Hoescht Celancese Corp., where he was a chemical processing technical specialist and after years of dedicated service, retired in 1996. He was a senior member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. A veteran of the Korean War, he served as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1955, saw action aboard the USS Mississippi, and currently enjoyed membership in the Seagoing Marines Association. J.C. loved learning and had a special gift for numbers and the sciences. His hobbies included carpentry, woodworking, sailing and golf. He could fix anything and loved singing and playing the guitar. What J.C. will be remembered for most was his natural ability as a great storyteller and his willingness to do anything to make people laugh. He will missed by his many friends and family members. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his special stepson, Michael Conrad Drake. Surviving are three daughters, Tracy Elizabeth Stafford of Norfolk, Lisa Paige Stafford of Birmingham, Mich., and Amber-Anne Stafford Piveral and husband Gene of Forsyth, Mo.; a sister, Joyce Marie Hruska of Tyner; his daughter-in-law, Alexandra Drake of Gatesville; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A funeral will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in Happy Home Pentecostal Holiness Church by the Rev. Chuck Davis. Burial with military rites will follow in the church cemetery. The family will assemble at the church at 1:30 p.m. in preparation of services. Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.millerfhc.com.