He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Cookie Stanford; one sister, Dean Arnold of Dothan, Alabama; his children, C. Edward Stanford Jr., Dianne Johnson (Michael), Stan Stanford (Judith) and their mother Mrs. Sara Stephens of Warner-Robbins, Georgia; his stepdaughters, Vanessa Sligar (Terry) and Edith Manning (Marcus); his grandchildren, Nicholas Johnson, Morgan Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Bernard Stanford, Rebecca Stanford, Nathaniel Stanford, Lydia Stanford, Terry Sligar, Jr. (Brenda), Jess Sligar (Nathalie), Heather Davis (Jeff), MaeLynn Manning and TammraLee Manning; his great-grandchildren, Caleb, Leilani, Lily and Andrew; and his nephew, Vincent Arnold of Dothan.

Ed Stanford was born in Houston County, Alabama (Cottonwood). His family moved to Kinsey, Alabama at an early age. He was a veteran of World War II and was a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. In 1953 he moved his family to Pensacola to work in the personnel department of the new Chemstrand nylon plant. In 1961 he left Chemstrand to go into business for himself, eventually owning the Stanford Insurance Agency. He sold the business and retired in 1979. In 1984 he came out of retirement and was elected to the Escambia County School Board representing District 5 for which he served for 12 years.

Ed received a number of awards for service to his community including God in Government Award, Escambia Search and Rescue for his fund raising and Lifetime PTA award.

Ed was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Rd, Christian Business Men’s Committee, National Rifle Association, Escambia County School Board, NW Florida Blood Bank, Disabled American Veterans, American Security Council, Hadji Temple, Cantonment Rotary Club and Foundation of Excellence.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 25, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road with the memorial service following at 11:30 a.m. Pastor Jim Locke will be officiating. Pallbearers are Nicholas Johnson, Terry Sligar, Jr., Jess Sligar, and Jeff Davis. Honorary pallbearers are Mel Gentry’s Life Group. Private interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery.