Paul Frank Sandford

Paul Frank Sandford was born December 31, 1939 in Manchester, NH, to David and Rebecca (Aldrich) Sandford, the 3rd of 5 children. Nearly all his young life was spent in Tacoma and he graduated from Puyallup high school in 1958. He married Zona Odegard on September 2, 1962 in Richland, WA. They spent 30 years living in Plain, WA and 7 at Lake Wenatchee where they raised their children, Ben (1964), Dan (1965) and Gloria (1968). Paul worked for the US Forest Service for over 37 years. When he retired in 2001, Paul and Zona moved to Spokane Valley. In 2008 Paul was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease eventually requiring them to move into assisted living at Brookdale Park Place in 2018, where he peacefully passed on June 5, 2021. He was 81.

The Forest Service greatly benefitted with Paul as an employee as he had a great work ethic, worked well with people, and loved the outdoors. He was involved in all aspects of recreation from creating campgrounds to developing hiking trails and grooming snowmobile trails. Additionally, he fought forest fires. Most importantly he was instrumental in mentoring colleagues and being a friend to all.

Paul was an ardent and successful gardener. Raspberries “just like on the coast”, winter-sweetened carrots, and the tallest-best peas were his trademarks. He was also a hay farmer but not for profit, rather to provide his kids with employment – he actually paid his kids more than the other farmers!

A strong commitment to family was a hallmark of Paul and Zona’s character. They stayed in the same home and lived on a single income so that they could provide the best life for their children. We all played many games, indoor and out, had family worship time together, visited the aged and sick, and did many chores – all with the focus of growing a Godly family. They also became wonderful grandparents and have continued not just as parents, but as friends.

A huge part of Paul and Zona’s life revolved around church and being an example of Christ. For many years he was pastor of the Wenatchee Church of God 7th Day and later was an elder of the Spokane Church of God (Seventh Day). For 50+ years he was member and then chairman of Tabernacle Fellowship (church camp). As a lay pastor his sermons were always practical applications gleaned from his job and life. He excelled in doing whatever was needed to accomplish the ministry of the church. His greatest legacy will be that he loved us all in Christ’s example – family, church, the old, the ill, the hurting, the neighbors, the irritating; women and men alike.

Paul was proceeded in death by his parents and brothers Samuel Sandford and Tad Sandford. He is survived by his wife, Zona Sandford, sister Mary (Gerald) Hume and brother Philip (Rowena) Sandford, sons Ben (Joy) Sandford and Dan (Kamin) Sandford, daughter Gloria Sandford, and 12 grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home in Spokane Valley on June 18, 2021 at 10:00 am, followed by an interment service at Valley View Memorial Park in Soap Lake, Washington at 3:00 pm.