He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy (Hovda) Stanford; his daughters, Nicole Stanford and Corrie Stanford; and his beloved grandchildren, Arianna and Trevin.
Don loved his family deeply—both the family he was born into and the family he created through friendship. He had a gift for making people feel welcome, valued, and loved.
Music and cooking were two of Don’s greatest passions, and he shared those gifts with everyone around him. He believed, as Harry Chapin said, “Music is the universal language. It brings people together, no matter where they come from or what language they speak.”
Don also found great joy in serving others through Steve’s Pantry, the food pantry ministry at Gruene United Methodist Church. Helping those in need was one of the many ways he showed his kindness, generosity, and love for his community.
A Memorial Service celebrating Don’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on August 7, 2026, at Gruene United Methodist Church, 2629 E. Common Street, New Braunfels, Texas 78130.
In true Don fashion, his Celebration of Life will be a reflection of joy, love, and color. He would not want anyone to wear black—please come wearing whatever color makes you happy and helps you celebrate his life.
As Don would remind us:
“There are so many colors in the rainbow, so many colors in the morning sun, so many colors in the rainbow, and I see every one.”
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Steve’s Pantry at Gruene United Methodist Church in honor of Don and his love of serving others.
