Vernon Darrell Hansford was born on December 27, 1940 in Shreveport, LA to Noel Leon Hansford and Lillie Kendziora Bukowsky, and passed away on October 4th, 2026 in Fort Worth, TX following an extended illness. He was a proud graduate of Fair Park High School in 1958, and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he honorably served from 1963 to 1969. Prior to enlisting in the Army, Darrell joined the Shreveport Fire Department in 1963, serving for over 32 years before retiring in 1995 as Battalion Chief at Station #9. Darrell was the first ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting) Chief at the Shreveport Fire Department. One of his career highlights included being asked to help modernize the ARFF program through training and equipment, which included a new crash truck used at the Shreveport Regional Airport Station #16 for rapid response to aviation accidents, rescue operations, and high-risk fuel fires. Even in retirement, he remained close to his fire department brothers through the ROMEO group (Retired Old Men Eating Out), and celebrated their time together through old stories and lots of laughs. He was also a carpenter during his free time, and was the handiest of handymen, having the talent to fix almost anything that was broken.
Darrell married Donna Kaye Burrows Hansford on January 23, 1967 in Marshall, TX, and were married 17 days shy of 50 years before her passing on January 6, 2017. Throughout his life, Darrell was always a family man, and treasured his time with immediate and extended family. He was especially fond of his three grandsons and two great grandchildren, making the decision to move to Fort Worth, TX in 2023 with his son, Scott, to be closer to them. Darrell was a devout Christian, spent time regularly in the Word, and was unafraid to live out his faith in Christ in front of others. He always had an enjoyment of classic cars, having completely restored a 1957 two-door hardtop and placing it in the 1997 World of Wheels car show in Shreveport. One of his favorite activities annually was attending the multi-day Pate Swap Meet in Dallas-Fort Worth area with his fellow classic car buddies every April for the last nearly 40 years.
Darrell is survived by his two sons, Scott Hansford of Fort Worth, TX, and Jason Hansford of Stonewall, LA; daughter Taryn Hansford Riden of Abilene, TX; son-in-law Dewey Riden of Fort Worth, TX; grandsons Connor Riden of Abilene, TX, Ryan Hansford and his wife Maddie of Fort Worth, TX, and Hunter Riden of Fort Worth, TX; great-grandson Jaxon Riden of Abilene, TX; great-granddaughter Milani Riden of Fort Worth, TX; sister-in-law Rhonda Hooper and her husband Stephen of Edmond, OK.
Visitation will be held Monday, October 12, 2026 from 10 am to 12 pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road in Shreveport. Funeral services will be held afterwards at 12 pm at the Centuries Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, with services officiated by Bro. John Harp of Brookwood Baptist Church. Interment will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Panola, TX following the services.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dewey Riden, Connor Riden, Hunter Riden, Ryan Hansford, Al Delaune, and Mack Covell. Honorary pallbearers will be Lanny Milton and Greg Caraway. Floral offerings should be delivered to the funeral home.
Darrell will be deeply missed but his memory, love, compassion, and service will live on in the hearts of all that knew him.
