William Elza Trafford

William Elza Trafford, 92, of Valdosta died Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on August 21, 1923 in Wesley, Iowa to the late Elza Wilburn and Lola Mae Whitener Trafford and had lived in Valdosta for the past eight years. He spent his early life farming in Iowa and Missouri and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. Trafford worked several seasons in Alaska on the Aleutian Islands doing construction and worked in road construction on the Iowa Interstates. He owned and operated Bill's Print Shop from 1970-1982 in Prescott, Arizona. Mr. Trafford loved to travel and visited all fifty states and several countries in Europe and Australia. He also enjoyed ballroom and square dancing, playing cards and singing. Mr. Trafford was a passionate sports fan. He volunteered for many years after retirement with the VA, Red Cross and the Food Bank in Mesa, Arizona. Mr. Trafford was a member of the Park Avenue United Methodist Church since moving to Valdosta in 2008.
Survivors include his children, Lorie (Raymond) Sable of Valdosta and Todd Trafford of Washington, DC; his grandchildren, Rachel Sable of St. Louis, MO, Ann Elise Trafford of Madison, WI, Sarah Sable, Hannah Sable both of Valdosta; two siblings, Lora Wilsey of Redding, CA and Clarence Trafford of Salt Lake City, UT; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by, his parents, his wife, Dorothy Fern Moore Trafford, brothers, Robert Trafford and Vic Trafford, sisters, Ruth Bashford, Claire Trafford, and Lois Lundquist.
Mr. Trafford will be cremated and memorial services will be held at a later date. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602