Billy Wayne “Bill” Stalford of Hermiston died on Nov. 29, 2017 in Richland, Wash. at the age of 59.
He was born on May 8, 1958 in Corvallis to Lawrence and Frances Kirby Stalford.
Bill was raised and attended schools in Corvallis, Eddyville, Shedd and Brownsville. He graduated from Central Linn High School in 1976, where he participated in track and wrestling. He served in the United States Air Force until his honorable discharge, when he returned to the Willamette Valley. He attended the Lutheran Evangelical Faith Seminary in Tacoma, Wash. and then Concordia College in Milwaukee, Wis. Bill worked in Lebanon before moving to Hermiston in the early 1990s. He drove truck for Lamb Weston and later was the owner/operator of Stalford and Associates until retiring in 2016. He married Nellie Wheeler on July 10, 1999 in Hermiston. He was a member of the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene. Bill enjoyed repairing and restoring homemade garden tractors, fishing, watching movies, playing board games, and tinkering and repairing things in his shop.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie Stalford; sons, Timothy and Jeremiah Stalford; grandchildren, Emerald, Nyah, Canon, Torin and Faolan; sisters, Mary Hoff, Karen Kolka, Leta Jackman and Janis Stalford; brothers, Owen, Ernest, Mike, Kenny, Jimmy and Harry Stalford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Lee and Erle Stalford.
A celebration of life service with military honors will be held at the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave., with date and time to be announced.
Those who wish may make contributions in Bill’s memory to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center at 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Building A, Kennewick, Wash., 99336.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
