Regnald "Reg" Claudis Bafford

Regnald C. Bafford

Memorial services for Regnald C. Bafford, 76, were Monday at the Congregational Church with the Rev. Nick Natelli officiating.

Mr. Bafford died April 14, 1987 in Mesa. AZ. He was born May 31, 1910 in Macon IL

He married Coreen Rainey of Glenrock on Nov. 22, 1945, in Salt Lake City, UT.

A veteran of World War II, he had served in the infantry in the Pacific theater. Mr. Bafford attended the University of Wyoming and had worked for the U.S. Forest Service and the Farm Security Administration in Douglas.

On Jan. 1, 1948, he purchased Niobrara Abstract Co., which he sold in 1973, and retired.

He served on the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission from 1969-1973, the Wyoming Recreation Commission from 1974-78, and the Wyoming Highway Commission from 1979-85. He was vice chairman of the highway commission from 1981-83.

According to an article in the winter 1984-85 edition of "The Highwayman," a magazine published by the highway commission, Bafford was the only commissioner in recent times to serve on all three boards.

Mr. Bafford was also very active in Lusk community work. He worked with the Boy Scouts, was a member of the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital Board for many years and was active in the county Democratic Party, serving as chairman.

He was very active in the Congregational Church. He served as moderator, deacon and on the board of trustees and was chairman when the first remodeling was done. He also taught church school and was youth group leader.

He was past master of Harmony Lodge, past patron of Niobrara Chapter 26 OES, and past commander of Wieten-Dupes American Legion Post 4. He had served as treasurer of the Elks Lodge and was a member of VFW and the local and national AARP. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Board of Directors and the Senior Citizens Center.

Mr. Bafford loved the wide-open spaces of Wyoming and was an enthusiastic photographer. For many years he went big game hunting in Wyoming. The Baffords had a camper and he liked to get out in the mountains, fishing and taking pictures.

His other great love was football. He had polio when he was in high school and his desire to play spurred him to overcome the crippling disease. He was the first person in the state of Illinois to receive a certain treatment for polio, which prevented permanent damage.

Other hobbies included gardening and work on his Volkswagens.

He was an advocate of the new overpass construction project in Lusk, closely following its progress.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Robin.

Survivors include his widow of Lusk; two sons; Michael of Kristianstad, Sweden and Richard of Statesville, NC.; two brothers, Charles and Fae of Blue Mound, IL. and four grandchildren.

Memorials to the Congregational Church Scholarship Fund would be appreciated by the family.

Cremation has been held with Peet Mortuary in charge of arrangements. The ashes will be interred in the family plot at Lusk Cemetery.

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