Thomas Earl "Tom" Stafford, 61, died Jan. 28, 2012, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center at Via Christi St. Francis Campus, Wichita, from a brain tumor. Tom was born May 6, 1950, in Neodesha, Kansas, the son of Bob and Margaret Wiley Stafford.

He graduated from Nickerson High School in 1968 and attended the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Tom had worked for the downtown Dillon Pharmacy, Prairie Harvest and Ten Thousand Villages, all of Newton.

Tom is survived by his siblings: Nancy Rizzuto and husband Jim, Kris Stafford, Joe Stafford, Ned Stafford, Sarah Kovach, Mary Stafford, Jon Stafford and wife Eleanor; nephews, Max Stafford, Nick Stafford, Benn Rizzuto, Nate Stafford, Miles Stafford, George Stafford, Phillip Stafford, Will Kovach, Eli Stafford and Jasper Stafford; nieces, Kate Baker, Maggie Kovach and Emily Stafford.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Dr. Robert Stafford.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be in Wildmead Cemetery, Nickerson, Kansas. Memorials may be made to Prairie View Community Support Program, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS, 67501.