Walter Stafford

      “Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Walter Stafford, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.       He was the son of Walter Stafford and Anne Vederko. Raised in New York, New York, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.      As a young boy, Walter was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Walter was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Walter was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Walter also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Walter was raised with one sibling. He had one brother, Peter. Walter was constantly involved in activities with his family. Walter and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.      Growing up, Walter was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Walter was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Walter was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Walter took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in baseball. In his spare time he liked fishing with his brother.      Walter enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Walter was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Walter was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. Walter enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers.      Most folks would say that Walter was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Walter was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Walter best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Walter kept. Later in life, he became friends with Bob, Jack, Mac, John, Ron, Art and many others.      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Walter. It was as if Walter naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Walter disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.      Walter was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Walter was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Walter was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Walter was blessed with Two children, one son, Chris, and one daughter, Carolyn. They were also blessed with three grandchildren, Samantha, Jessica, and Taran.      If you gave Walter a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Walter was always on task. Without hesitation, Walter could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was mold shop/production engineer. He was employed for 30 years by Gates Rubber. During that time, Walter excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Walter was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Walter had at true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.      Walter was an Army MP officer. He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. He was stationed at Fort Dix, Fort Jackson, and Fort Bragg. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class.      Walter liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Walter's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Walter preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were photography, gardening, and cooking. Walter was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.      While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Walter often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball and football.      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Walter had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included two trips to Hawaii with Brian and Carolyn.      Walter had Boomer, a Shih-Tzu, who was his best friend for two years. His family was rounded out by his four dogs, Sam, Alfie, Izzy, and Sparky. Walter was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.      When Walter's retirement finally arrived in 2007, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. His new life involved living in Littleton, Colorado. In retirement, he found pleasure in building a new boat and learning digital photography. Even in retirement, Walter continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.      Walter passed away on February 3, 2010 at Life Care Center in Aurora, Colorado. He fought a brave struggle against lung cancer. He is survived by his children Christopher and Carolyn; his granchildren, Samantha, Jessica, and Taran. Services were held at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. Walter was laid to rest in Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado.      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Walter was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Walter was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Walter Stafford was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Walter. He will be missed.