Dennis Elgin Stafford

Dennis Elgin Stafford was born into this life on January 16, 1949, in Eagle Grove, IA. His family later moved to Spokane, WA, where he graduated from West Valley High School in 1967. While attending Eastern Washington State University, he worked as a shift manager at a local A&W Root Beer stand where he met the love of his life, Marilyn Kaye Harkins. They wed on August 29, 1970, at St John Vianney Church in Spokane, WA. He graduated EWSU in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education with minors in Sociology and Psychology. The following summer Dennis and Marilyn welcomed their first child, a son, Matthew Dennis Stafford, in July 1972; followed two years later by a daughter, Stephanie Lynne Stafford, in June 1974.
In the summer after college, Dennis worked as a salesman for Worldbook Encyclopedia. He was a natural and was often the top salesman at each company for whom he worked. In 1980 he was offered a chance to transfer to Arlington, TX, which is where he made his home for the remainder of his life. It was in Arlington that Dennis and Marilyn welcomed their daughter, Laura Jane Stafford, in December of 1982.
Never one to sit idle, Dennis enjoyed many hobbies such as fishing, golf, and basketball. He also volunteered countless hours at Arlington First Church of the Nazarene working with both the children and teen ministries, serving on the church board, and holding the position of Sunday School Superintendent.
One of his favorite pastimes, especially in his later years, was attending Martin High School football, basketball, and baseball games. His fervent enthusiasm for the games earned him a lifetime honorary membership to the Martin High School Booster Club. He took his role as a fan very seriously and made a point to freely express (quite loudly) his dissatisfaction with the referees in each game if he felt they were not doing their job according to his standards. He was also kind enough to encourage the referees to have their vision checked regularly and advised them not to quit their day jobs.
While Dennis held many jobs (often more than one at a time) and enjoyed various hobbies in his lifetime, nothing could top the time spent with his family. No job or sporting event ever took priority over his wife and children. Whether it was the family dinner table, attending his children’s school and church events, or making special memories during the holidays, his family never had to compete for his attention. He was often found outside during the summers playing hide and seek with his children (and many of the neighborhood kids as well), playing games inside on rainy days, sharing his love of music with his family, enjoying his favorite movies and TV shows, telling bedtime stories (with his active imagination), or simply spending time being together.
Throughout the many challenges Dennis faced in his life, he never stopped praising God. His love and devotion to God was at the forefront of everything he did, and he never wavered in his faith.
After battling Parkinson’s disease for over 27 years, his physical body was released from the fight on June 18, 2022, as he went to enjoy his heavenly, eternal reward in the arms of his Savior.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Elgin Edward Stafford and Nellie Pauline (Madson) Stafford. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Stafford, his children Matthew Stafford and his wife Melissa, Stephanie Mayhugh and her husband Mark, Laura Shuman and her husband Brandon, and his seven grandchildren: Calisha and Alicia Mayhugh, Lucas and Noah Stafford, Rowan, Eli, and Selah Shuman.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dennis Stafford will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, July 15, 2022, at Wade Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76013.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to parkinson.org.