Memorials › Durward Neal “Gus” Wofford
Durward Neal “Gus” Wofford
22 Dec 1934 – 9 Apr 2018
| Birth | 22 Dec 1934 |
| Death | 9 Apr 2018 |
| Cemetery | Masonic Cemetery Las Cruces , Doña Ana County , New Mexico , USA |
| Added by | [email protected] on 30 May 2025 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188757720 |
Bio
(a) 1934: Durward Neal Wofford born Dec 22,1934 Las Cruces, Doria Ana County, New Mexico. (b) 1960 Durward N Wofford married Joyce Elaine Lowery Jan 2,1960 Las Cruces, NM; Joyce's father JL Wofford; brother Gene Wofford); daughter Ann Elaine Wofford (Oct 21,1962 to Jun 30,1968' RIP Houston). ====================== Durward Neal Wofford, 83, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away Monday, April 9, 2018 at La Posada Hospice, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Durward was born December 22, 1934 in Las Cruces, NM. His parents were Joseph Wofford, Sr. and Mary Easter Wofford. Durward, or Gus, as he was known in the military and at Physical Science Laboratory, was a veteran of the United States Air Force where he served his country honorably. Durward and his friend Bob Wood drove to El Paso in 1954 and joined the Air Force together. While in the service, he was awarded the National Defense Service medal, Good Conduct medal, the Korean Service medal, and the United Nations Service medal. He was stationed at Richards-Gebaur AFB in Kansas City, Missouri and completed Aircraft and Control Warning training at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. He served in Japan and Korea, Komaki AFB near Nagoya, Japan and Gifu AFB. In 1959 Durward joined the NMSU Physical Science Laboratory's Rocket Section. For the next ten years he worked on projects including the single-stage Apache (Highball) vehicle and the two-stage Nike Apache (Speedball) vehicle used as targets for the Army's Nike-Zeus and follow-on systems. They were pioneers at WSMR on unguided rocket systems and balloon borne target systems. These systems were used against the first anti-ballistic missile systems (ABM) located at WSMR, Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and in Langdon, North Dakota. Durward represented PSL at each of these locations. Durward continued working at PSL on other government contracts and in procurement until he retired in 1995. He had an active retirement until diabetes slowed his activities. He was a coin collector and scuba diver with a huge shell collection. He loved music and enjoyed singing with the Senior Adult Choir at First Baptist Church until he could no longer stand for extended periods. He was an avid fisherman. His favorite lake was Sam Rayburn Lake in Texas. He was a Friday night Pinochle player and an Aggie sports fan. He especially loved the many friends he had at church, especially his Bible study group in Adult IV. Those left to mourn his passing include his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce Wofford of the family home; one son, Durward Dale Wofford (Cristal); two brothers, Carl Wofford (Linda) of Las Cruces and Gene Wofford of Missouri City, Texas. Other survivors include two grandchildren, Hannah Gailann Wofford and Ezra Lee Wofford of Melrose, New Mexico as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Joe Lee Wofford, Jr., and a daughter, Ann Elaine Wofford. Services will be held at First Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018 with Dr. Gene Wofford, Durward Dale Wofford and Dr. David Burrows officiating. Burial will take place at the Masonic Cemetery immediately following the service. Pallbearers are Bob Barron, Sidney Gantz, Ira Pinkston, Bob Wofford, Gary , Wofford and Larry Wofford. Honorary pallbearers are Jim McPherson, Dale Gantz, Bill Frye, Dr. Jim Bullock, Bill Gorman, George Gray, Gene Whitlow, Howard Cothern, Bill Raye, Bob Bennett, Chris Allison, Lonnie Moore and Norm Smith. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to First Baptist Church Reach Program. Services have been entrusted to the care of LaPaz-Graham's Funeral Home, 555 W. Amador, Las Cruces, N.M. To send Condolences please visit www.lapaz-grahams.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on Apr. 12, 2018
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