OBITUARY: Harry Wright Stanford, 90, of Buchanan Dam dies Aug. 12, 2014
Harry Wright Stanford of Buchanan Dam, Texas, returned to his Maker on Aug. 12, 2014, at the age of 90. He was born in 1923 in San Antonio to the Rev. E.R. Stanford and Elizabeth Gooch Wright.
In 1942, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from North Texas State University. Harry proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He became a weather officer in the Air Force after graduating with a master’s degree in meteorology from the California Institute of Technology in 1944.
After duty in the China-Burma-India theater, he returned to the States in 1946. Following graduate accounting studies at the University of Texas, he joined the State Auditor’s office, primarily auditing state colleges and universities, where he met his future wife, Lucille Belser of Fox, Okla., the assistant auditor for Texas State College for Women.
He was auditor and associate business manager of North Texas State (1949-1955) and was business manager/assistant superintendent of public schools (Midland, 1955-1969, San Antonio 1969-1978, Alamo Heights 1978-1985), and city manager of Olmos Park from 1989-1990. In 1995, he purchased a ranch in Tow, Texas, and raised cattle. He helped revise the Texas Accounting manual for school districts, which was based on the accounting procedure he established at North Texas and Midland. He was listed in Who’s Who in America and has been a member of the American and Texas Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Texas State Teachers Association and Highland Lakes United Methodist Church.
Harry was active in the United Methodist Churches in Denton, Midland (St. Luke’s), San Antonio (Laurel Heights) and Buchanan Dam, where he enjoyed singing in the choir, served as secretary of stewardship, chairman of the official board, chairman of the building committee, trustee, treasurer, MYF sponsor and recording secretary of the church conference among others. He was often the pianist for his church school class.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Katheryne Lucille Stanford of Buchanan Dam; daughters, Rebecca Elizabeth Christy of Austin, Janice Katheryne Hickman of San Antonio, Teresa Nanette Decker of Houston and Nancy Jo Stanford of Buchanan Dam; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; brother Earle Gooch Stanford of Fort Worth; and sister, Harriett Whiteside of Lake Jackson.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Edward Rosemond Stanford Jr. and David McFerrin Stanford.
A graveside service is 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at Stanford Chapel Cemetery, 10374 Chapel Road in Lorena, with the Rev. John McMullen officiating. A celebration of Harry’s life and hymn sing-a-long is 1:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Highland Lakes United Methodist Church in Buchanan Dam with the Rev. Grady Roe officiating.
Memorials may be made to Highland Lakes United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1005, Buchanan Dam, TX 78609; Friends of Lakeshore Library, 7346 Texas 261, Buchanan Dam, TX 78609; or Stanford Chapel Association, 10374 Arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home, 145 Texas Ave. in Kingsland, (325) 388-0008. Go to www.putnamcares.com to sign an online guest register.