by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SUNDAY, April 4, 1993 TAG: 9304050170 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
OBIT STAFFORD, RALPH PORTER
STAFFORD, Ralph Porter, 86, of Narrows, died Saturday, April 3, 1993, at Giles Memorial Hospital. He was born August 29, 1906, in Mechanicsburg, Bland County, a son of the late Willilam Henry and Emma Jane Stafford. Porter attended Hiwassee College and Emory & Henry College where he won the Byers prize medal in 1928 for the highest grade in math and science over a four-year period. He also attended Columbia University and the University of Virginia. He was a former teacher in Bland and Giles Counties between 1927 and 1936, serving as principal of New Port High School and Rocky Gap High School. He then served as a district agent for State Farm Insurance from 1935 to 1940. He operated a lumber business in Bland and Giles for 15 years. After that time, he returned to teaching math at Giles High School until his retirement, and while in this position, he organized and managed the Giles Education Association Credit Union. His life revolved around his love of music, especially gospel. He organized and sang with many gospel singing groups, traveling throughout Southwest Virginia. He also helped lead the singing at the Annual Men's Fellowship Breakfast at the Narrows Park for numerous years. He was a lifetime member of the Methodist church; and served as Sunday school superintendent at Byrnes Chapel, Mechanicsburg, and Hales Chapel, Narrows, for many years. Porter was a charter member and past president of the Wolf Creek Ruritan Club, and was still active at the time of his death. He was a sixty-year member of the Narrows Intermont Masonic Lodge No. 269, and was also past worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was predeceased in 1960 by his first wife, Celestia Conley Stafford, and a son-in-law, Robert W. King. He is survived by his wife, Aulena Hankins Stafford, Narrows; two daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Stafford King of Ashland, Va., Carol and Robert Swaider of Virginia Beach; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. William D. and Sandra Stafford, Ronald A. and Susan Stafford, all of Narrows; a sister, Hazel S. Bane, and a stepsister, Glorina Bird, both of Bland County; his grandchildren, Patricia King, Pamela Thorne, David Stafford, Katrina White, Dianne Celestia Stafford, Scott Stafford, Robby Stafford, Jennifer Conley Stafford, Erin Swaider, Betsy Swaider, Amanda Swaider and Christopher Swaider; and his great-grandchildren, Bart Stafford, Lindsey Stafford and Nathan White. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, April 5, 1993, at Hales Chapel Methodist Church with the Rev. James L. Crabtree and the Rev. Doug Hyndrich officiating. Burial will follow in the Boyd Cemetery, Route 2, Narrows. The family will receive friends at Riffe's Funeral Serivce in Narrows Sunday, April 4, 1993, from 6 until 9 p.m. A Masonic memorial service will be conducted 7 p.m. Sunday at Riffe's Funeral Chapel by Intermont Lodge No. 269 A.F.&A.M.