Buford Stamper
June 20, 1924 — March 1, 2013
Buford Stamper, 88, died at 9:45 a.m. March 1, 2013, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.
Born June 20, 1924, in Smoky Valley, Kentucky, to Goldie and Charlie Stamper who preceded him in death, he was married to Louise Vandervliet on Feb. 16, 1946.
Mr. Stamper was a 1941 graduate of Manchester High School, Manchester, Ohio, and graduate of Miami University. He served in the Navy in World War II as a gunners mate for the United States Merchant Marine vessels. Bud was a Prudential Insurance agent for 34 years. He was an avid fisherman and swimmer. He was the recipient of a kidney transplant in 1996. Mr. Stamper was a member of First United Methodist Church, Van Wert, and the American Legion Post No. 178.
Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Stamper of Tampa, Florida, Pamela (Ronald) Bachman of Powell, Ohio, and Sandra (Todd) Heck of Whitehouse, Ohio; one son-in-law, Bill Pollock of Van Wert; two siblings, Jean Stewart of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Adrian Stamper of Alta Loma, California; five grandchildren, Brian Stamper of Tampa, Florida, Chad (Augusta) Pollock of Van Wert, Bradley (Jennifer) Bachman of Westerville, Ohio Abigail Bachman of Hilliard, Ohio, Grant Fiock of Whitehouse, Ohio; two stepgrandchildren, Katherine and Elizabeth Heck of Springfield, Ohio, and three great-grandchildren, Greyson, Keira and Ashlyn Pollock of Van Wert.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise G. Stamper; one daughter, Carol Ann (Bill) Pollock of Middle Point; one sibling, Curtis Stamper, and two granddaughters, Cammie and Carrie Pollock of Middle Point.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 4 at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert. Military graveside will be conducted by combined units of the Van Wert American Legion and V.F.W. Posts. Friends may call from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, 1155 Westwood Dr., Van Wert, OH 45891.