Royce Franklin Stafford Sr., 71

LEWES - Royce Franklin Stafford Sr. of Lewes died Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Harrison House, Georgetown. He was 71.

Mr. Stafford was born May 22, 1935, in Flintstone, Md., son of late Charles A. and Evelyn (Drake) Stafford.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Mr. Stafford was employed for 35 years in the telephone industry starting with Diamond State Telephone, which later became Bell Atlantic and is now Verizon, holding various positions, lastly as an installer. He retired in 1995.

He loved to be around the ocean and enjoyed fishing and boating. He held a professional clamming license and made fishing nets by hand.

Mr. Stafford was a member of American Legion Post 17 in Lewes and AMVETS Post 2 in Millsboro.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose Marie Stafford; and a brother, Paul M. Stafford.

He is survived by his wife of 14 years, JoAnne Stafford; a son and daughter-in-law, Royce F. Jr. and Lisa Stafford of Atlantic, Va.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Robin and Rob Brown of Dover, Roxanne Ellers of Newark, and Romane and David Creed of Angola; JoAnne's children and their spouses, Michel and Sheila Clough of Harrington, Sandra Bauer of Milford, Lori Clough of Frederica, and Melissa and Mark Wilson of Clayton; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles W. and Sylvia Stafford of Middletown; and 16 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., where friends may call one hour prior.

Burial will be private.

Instead of flowers, the family has suggested memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, Georgetown Professional Park, Suite 107, 600 DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947; or the American Legion Post 17, P.O. Box 5, Lewes, DE 19958.