Joseph Stafford

Joseph Stafford, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, July 30, 2006, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston, Texas.

He was born April 8, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, son of Mitchell D. and Minnie Stafford. He attended Cobb School and Central High School.

Stafford worked in the auto industry in Detroit, Mich., and then was trained in operating heavy equipment in Los Angeles. He returned to Cape Girardeau in 1973 and was employed by Cotton Belt Railroad, retiring in 1990.

He then traveled extensively. His travels included Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Panama, Guam, Germany, the Philippines and Cambodia.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to being honorably discharged in 1963, including an 18-month tour of duty in Germany.

Survivors include his mother of Cape Girardeau; a son, Brooks Sides of Cape Girardeau; four sisters, Ann Shares and Regina Jones of Cape Girardeau, Viola Stafford of St. Louis, Denise Warren of Overland Park, Kan.; four brothers, James of Viera, Fla., Bill and Eugene of Detroit, and Ben of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his father; and four brothers, Lindsey, John, Mitchell Jr. and Walter.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. to service time Saturday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Titus Davis officiating.