William Henry Wolford (Bill), 87, of LaFeria, Texas and Clinton, Missouri, died Monday, August 24, 2015 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, Missouri.

In 1948 he married Mary Cox of Maben, West Virginia. They were united in marriage for twenty-six years and had four daughters. In 1974 he married Dortha Carter of Clinton, Missouri, a loving union that lasted for 32 years until she preceded him in death on July 23, 2006.

During World War II, Bill joined the United States Army at the young age of sixteen, under the guise of being eighteen. After basic training he volunteered to serve as a paratrooper. He served and fought for our country for approximately four years including time spent fighting in Europe. After he was discharged from the Army, Bill worked various occupations including coal mining. He soon found his passion working as a certified welder, and was a member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Iron Workers Union for nearly forty years. He worked on various jobs including the Mile Long Bridge near Warsaw, the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan and several Minuteman missile sites across the country. Bill retired when he was sixty, and was able to enjoy his hobbies of: hunting, fishing, traveling, dancing, playing cards, and spending time with his family on a full time basis. Bill, Dorothy, and his ex-wife Mary were able to set aside their differences to raise their children together peacefully. Weekly card games and family dinners were regular occurrences. Eventually, Bill and Dorothy became Snowbirds, spending their time between LaFeria, Texas and Clinton, Missouri. After Dorothy's passing, Bill relocated to Texas to be a permanent resident, and to enjoy the company of his friends.

Bill is survived by his four daughters: Deborah Wolford of Clinton, Missouri; Karen Crowder (Danny) of Deepwater, Missouri; Tammy Patterson (Scott) of Albany, Georgia; Denise Krewson (Jerry) of Leeton, Missouri; a step-daughter Ileene Mcquitty (Richard) of Chilhowee, Missouri; a step-son Galen Carter of Clinton, Missouri.
Ten grandchildren: Christopher Wolford, Jon Crowder, Kenneth Wolford, Luke Crowder (Heidi), Eric Krewson (Amireen), Cody Krewson (Heather), Stephanie Patterson, Julia Patterson, Jessica Patterson, and Nathan Krewson.
Four great-grandchildren: John Johnson, Kiya Wolford, Javen Wolford, and Destry Wolford. A brother Bob Wolford (Lucy) of Bear, Delaware; two sisters Betty Smith of Cocoa, Florida and Phyllis McCaffrey of Livonia, Michigan, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother Myrtle Stacy Wolford, his father Henry Wolford, four of his sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, August 29, 2015 at Northeast Baptist Church in Clinton, Missouri. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.