Charles F. Stafford Jr. was born in Burlington, WA on 24 June 1918. Although his family was not wealthy, they lived securely in Anacortes, WA. After his graduation from high school in 1936, Mr. Stafford attended Whitman College. He graduated in 1940 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He was admitted to Yale Law School where he met Katherine "Kay" Grimm. World War II interrupted his education and romance. Mr. Stafford was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Signal Corps for the duration of the War. He married Kay as soon as he had his commission. They had two daughters. Mr. Stafford returned to Yale in 1946 and finished his law degree. He and his wife returned to Washington after his graduation. He helped the Prosecutor win the election and secured his position as the deputy prosecutor for Skagit County, WA.. In 1952, at the age of 34, Charles Stafford, Jr. won the position of a Skagit County Superior Court Judge. In 1968, he was appointed to the Division I Court of Appeals in Seattle, WA. After 4 months on the Court of Appeals, he was appointed to replace Justice Matthew Hill on the Washington State Supreme Court. Justice Stafford remained on the Supreme Court until he passed away in 1984. Kay Stafford passed away in 1980. Justice Stafford remarried in 1981. Although he became ill with cancer in 1983, he continued to serve on the Court until he passed away on July 3, 1984.
From the description of Charles F. Stafford, Jr.'s collection of certificates of election, 1956-1982. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 174142993
