Mary “Dutch” Stafford was born Mary Louise Whitmore, September 8, 1938, a daughter of James Melvin and Ova Katherine (Floch) Whitmore in Kinsman, OH. She passed away January 13, 2026, at the age of 87, in her home on Hilton Head Island, SC, with family by her side. She graduated from Kinsman/Badger High School where she lettered in softball. She married her husband Robert James Stafford on September 19, 1959. They made their home in the Reynolds/Transfer, PA area where they raised their four children. They were married 49 years until Robert’s passing in February 2009.

She was active in her community and at Lakeside EC Church in Transfer, PA. After retiring from Reynolds schools, she was very active in the Reynolds VFW Post 7599 Ladies’ Auxiliary as past president and having held other offices in the organization. Over the many years she resided in the Reynolds-Transfer area, she cared for people deeply, whether friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, or coworkers and was tireless in her service and commitment.

For the past six years, she made her home on Hilton Head Island, SC, where she made an abundance of new friends and gathered shark teeth and seashells during her many walks on the beach. She loved the Lord and spoke of Him freely and prayed for those who were in need of His touch. She became a member of HH Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head where she was active since 2020.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, son Richard, both parents, and both her sisters, Marjorie Ann Tricker and Barbara Jane Hall.

Dutch is survived by her daughter Michelle (Robert) Good, SC; sons James (Amanda) Stafford, OH, John (Sue) Stafford, TX, and son-in-law Gary Travis, TX; grandchildren Gina Wyant, Tony Stafford, Ben, Luke, Aaron, Allison, and Rachel Good, Trent, Mackenzie, and Logan Stafford Marcus, Lily and Hayden Boone  and many loving great-grandchildren.

A private memorial will be held at a later date, at her request, with cremated remains to be interred alongside her husband and family in Kinsman, OH.

Memorial donations in Mary’s name may be directed to:

Reynolds VFW Post 7599

115 Edgewood Dr,

Greenville, PA 16125