This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: STANFORD, ROBINSON, MUSSELMAN, HURST, ABERNATHY, HULIN, HAMMER, ALFORD, SHEPHERD, LUCAS, FREEMAN, HURLEY, SMITH Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nYB.2ACE/832 Message Board Post: >From a Hughes Co. newspaper, Feb. 1, 2001 John C. STANFORD Funeral services for John C. STANFORD, longtime Holdenville community leader, were held Jan. 22 at Barnard Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Joe ROBINSON officiating. He was born JUly 19, 1944 in Holdenville to Clayton Carl and Geraldine (MUSSELMAN) SRANFORD and died Jan. 18 in Shawnee at the age of 56. Mr. STANFORD graduated from Holdenville high school in 1962 and attended East Central State College and earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in 1967. He began work at Stanford Drug immediately after graduation. He was also employed by the board of directors of Holdenville General Hospital in October, 1968 as a consultant and part-time pharmacist and in 1988 he received the 20 year service pin. Mr. STANFORD purchased Stanford Frug in July, 1975 and in 1979 he purchased Consumers Discount Pharmacy and went into partnership with Robert HURST in Comsumers in 1980. He was also on staff on a consultative basis of area hospitals and was a lifetime member of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association, the National Rifle Association, the National Eagle Scout Association, and the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy Alumni Association. His professional memberships were with the Oklahoma Pharmaccutical Association, the American Pharmaccutical Association and the National Association of Retail Druggist, American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Oklahoma Society of Retail Druggists, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the OPhA district president on two occasions, and the Oklahoma Pharmacy Hertiage Foundation. Mr. STANFORD was involved in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge, the Retail Merchants Association, the United Fund board, the Wolverine Booster Club, the OU Sooner Club, the OU Tip-in Club, the Oklahoma president and vice-president of the HOldenville High School Alumni Association and was a member of the OU Touchdown Club, the Holdenville Chamber of Commerce, Tri-City Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and B.A.S.S. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church, a member of the OPhA Legislative Liaison Committee, served for five years on the Holdenville City Council and was a member of the Holdenville Volunteer Fire Department. His hobbies were golf and folllowing the OU Sooners. He was dedicated to the Little League programs by serving as coach and referee for the Pee Wee Football League during its entire existence. He had a special place in his heart for children, especially his two granddaughters, and left behind many little friends. Mr. STANFORD was married to Bonnie ABERNATHY in Eureka Springs, Ar. in July, 1993 and they were known for their extensive Christmas decorating. He was preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine, on Jan. 20, 1987 and his father, Clayton, in August, 1961. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie, of the home; children, Randy HULIN and wife, Kay, of Edmond, Sheli STANFORD, also of Edmond, Tobi HAMMER of McAlester and Casey HAMMER of Albuquerque, N.M.; brother, Charles STANFORD and wife, LuAnn, of Tulsa; grandchildren, Parker HULIN of Edmond and Madison HAMMER of McAlester, and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Pallbearers were John ALFORD, John SHEPHERD, Eddie LUCAS, Jerry HULIN, Andy FREEMAN, Robert HURST, Rick HURLEY and Bobby SMITH. Holdenville Fire Department werved as honorary pallbears. Interment was in the Holdenville Cemetery under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home of Holdenville.