Stafford was born on April 24, 1942, in Elgin, Texas, to Botvid Hilder and Dagmar Marian Bengtson. He graduated from Elgin High in 1960, where he was a member of the Elgin High Band. After graduating high school, he had various jobs in Elgin. He also farmed the family homestead in Lund, Texas.

In the summer of 1965, he met Mary Jo Axelson, who became his wife on Feb. 12, 1966. With this union, he and Mary Jo had two children.

In January of 1968, Stafford joined the city of Taylor Police Department as a Patrolman and worked his way to Sergeant in 18 months. In 1978, Stafford became Taylor’s third Police Chief. He served as Chief until he retired in 1993.

Stafford started his second career in 1992 with Williamson County Precinct 4, working under Jerry Mehevec, which transitioned to Unified Road and Bridge, where he served the county for 29 years.

On weekends and when he was away from work, Stafford was always ready to help his son with various tasks for the Bengtson Bulldozer business.

Stafford’s most important accomplishment of all was being a loving and faithful husband to his wife of almost 59 years, a wonderful father to his daughter and son and the absolute best Poppy to all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Stafford was preceded in death by his parents, Botvid Hilder and Dagmar Marian Bengtson, his sister Harriet Gardner and brother-in-law James Gardner.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Bengtson; children, Frances and Douglas Bengtson (and his wife Charlotte); five grandchildren, Mary Catherine, Nicholas (and fiancée Ruby), Luke, Ashley, Erin (and fiancée Dylan); his brother-inlaw Larry Axelson (and wife Nancy); nephew Jeff Gardner; niece Gayle (and husband Steve Fisher); and great-niece Alex Milam.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Austin Heart Hospital or the American Heart Association.

The visitation was held Friday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., and the memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home.