Willa Stanford

Willa Rhea Robb Stanford, 79, of Acton, Mass., formerly of Cape Girardeau, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, after a brief illness and suffering heart failure.

Survivors include two sons, Dan Stanford of Acton, Price A. Stanford of Nicholasville, Ky.; a daughter, Denise Stanford Faith of Clinton, Miss.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Terry Robb of Carbondale, Ill.; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

After her husband, O.E. "Bud" Stanford, passed away in 1978, Willa obtained her bachelor and master degrees in geriatric social work and worked in Connecticut and Missouri.

Willa was accomplished in the arts. She could play the piano by ear, had a beautiful soprano voice, was a consummate interior decorator, an accomplished seamstress, and could paint in a variety of media. She loved to while away her spare time with crossword puzzles and other brain teasers. She was a devout member of the Baptist Church and raised her children to have a respect for God and others.

We all loved Mom very much, and we are going to miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. 11 at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home.