William "Bill" Wayne Willford

William Wayne Bill Willford, 66, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at his home in Topeka, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 10, 2014. Interment Appanoose Cemetery, with military honors by Whiteman Air Force Base Honor Guard. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Willford at the mortuary after 1:00 P.M. Sunday, to the service hour where the family will meet with friends from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Sunday. Bill was born on Wednesday, March 26, 1947 in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of William “Dan” and Pauline Ardelle (Wray) Willford. He graduated from Pomona High School, Pomona, Kansas with the class of 1965. A near lifelong Ottawa resident, Bill moved to Topeka in 2006. He worked for the United States Postal Service in Topeka in the Material Distribution Center. For seventeen years he was a Kansas Drivers License Examiner. Bill served in the United States Air Force with the 81st Airborne from 1966 until 1969. He served with the Security Police K-9 Unit in RAF Bentwaters, England, as a dog handler. On December 18, 1970 William was united in marriage with Pat Milliman. They later divorced. She died in 1992. Survivors include his five daughters, Terry Knudsen and husband Lee of Ottawa, Amy Axline and husband Greg of Medicine Lodge, Tammy Moss and husband Jamie of Ottawa, Paula Crowell and husband Bob of Ottawa, and Nikki Fekete and husband T. J. of Waukesha, Wisconsin; honorary son, Bruce Askren of Carbondale; thirteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two brothers, Ronnie Willford and wife Jo Anne of Belle Plaine, and Donnie Willford and wife Letha of Pomona. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family suggests memorial contributions to Wounded Warrior Project c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.