Hoge Tyler Stafford Jr.

Hoge Tyler (H.T.) Stafford, Jr., of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the age of 92. Born in Bear Springs, Virginia, to Hoge T., Sr., and Launa Stafford, H. T. moved to Bluefield, West Virginia at an early age. He began working for Norfolk & Western while still in high school; in 1942 he transferred to Roanoke, Virginia, and he worked for N&W as a Scale Clerk for close to 40 years. H. T. will be remembered fondly as a caller (which he did as a hobby for fun) for both the Grand Squares and the Thrasher Square-dancers Clubs, as well as for the many summer weekends spent playing volleyball with friends and family at his cabin on Craig Creek. H. T. was preceded in death by two brothers, John J. (Jack) Stafford and William (Bill) Stafford, and one sister, Ardith Byrd. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Ruth McManaway Stafford; twin sons, Donald E. Stafford and wife, Mary Jo, and Ronald E. Stafford and wife, Diane Thurman; as well as five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to Huntington Court United Methodist Church Building Fund, The Salvation Army, or the Roanoke Rescue Mission. Funeral services will be held 12 noon Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Oakey's North Chapel, with the Rev. Chip Doyle officiating. The entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will be receiving friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2009 at Oakey's North Chapel, 540-362-1237.