Albert Wilford

1934 - 2021

Albert Wilford
July 8, 1934 - December 19, 2021
Albert William Wilford passed away on December 19, 2021, in Santa Rosa, at the age of 87. He was born on July 8, 1934, in Santa Rosa, CA, the son of Francis William Wilford and Ruth Helene Kleinworth. He attended school in the two room, two teacher, Monroe Elementary. From there it was Santa Rosa High, then classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955, serving his country for 20 years.
While in the Air Force, he was stationed all around the United States and deployed to Germany, Libya, Turkey, and Canada. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1975 from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, returning to his hometown of Santa Rosa to attend Sonoma State University where he graduated in 1978.
Albert worked for the County of Sonoma in the Reprographics Department as a printer and typesetter for twenty years. He got his start in printing at a young age working first as a paper boy for the Press Democrat, then in the printing department helping get the paper to press.
While stationed at Robins Air Force in Warner Robins, Georgia, Albert met his wife Barbara Whitley Wilford. His First Sergeant at his base in Germany happened to have his mom living near the base Albert was assigned in Georgia. He had Albert visit her and she in turn introduced the two. They were married on April 1, 1961, and recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara and daughter Suzanne Wilford Smith (Tim); his sister-in-law Anne Whitley; and his cousin, Yvonne Kreck (Bill). He is preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Sandra Cardell.
The family is invited to attend graveside services in January. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed for the Redwood Empire Food Bank or the Sonoma County Animal Services Animal Welfare Fund.