Bill Vern Hartford, 79, of Warrensburg, Missouri, died Wednesday, July 1, at St. Luke’’s Hospital in Kansas City.

Bill was born Jan. 4, 1936, in St. Paul, Nebraska, the son of Charles Seth Hartford and Irene (Wimp) Hartford. He spent his formative years in Nebraska prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1954. While he was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, he met Barbara Jo Dillingham. The couple was married on June 8, 1958, in Warrensburg. Bill was employed with United Telephone for 27 years. Upon retirement, the couple enjoyed doing woodcrafts together for over 20 years. Bill also loved to hunt, fish and he was an avid reader.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; son, Billy Joe Hartford, and wife, Margie; and daughter, Brenda Kay Sullivan, and husband, Donald, all of Warrensburg; brother, Jack Hartford, and wife, Mary, of Leeton, Missouri; two sisters, Mary Gay, and husband, Jim, of Palmer, Nebraska, and Judy Sample and husband, Jim, of Aurora, Nebraska; six grandchildren, Jessica Moore and husband, Josh; Codi Hartford, Colton Hartford, Taylor May, Tabitha May and Alison Woodmansee and husband, D.J., all of Warrensburg; and two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Jayce Woodmansee. He was preceded in death by both parents and two brothers, Denny Hartford and Jimmy Hartford.
Memorial Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Pleasant Bethel Baptist located southeast of Warrensburg with the Rev. Charles Brant and the Rev. Gale Yocum officiating.
Military honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2513, and American Legion, Post 131.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Pleasant Bethel Baptist Church in care of Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg. Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.