Walter ""Earl"" Bashford

Walter Earl Bashford was born in Wray, Colorado on July 11, 1925 to Viola Basquin Bashford, and Walter Martin Bashford. He was the third of 4 boys. His brothers were Ron, Bernie and Bruce. Earl and his family lived across from City Hall, which was built after they lived there. Earl was very active in his childhood. He played tennis and was on the swim team in high school. Earl was in college from 1943 ~ 1948 at CU Boulder. He studied Aeronautical Engineering and majored in engines. After 6 semesters of Engineering, he changed to Music. Earl graduated from Music school in 1948, and had enough hours in science and math to be able to teach those subjects also. In grade school, Earl's band teacher was Glenn Miller's older brother, Elmer. They called Elmer, ""Doc"". Earl and his 3 brothers played in the CU band. Ron played clarinet, Bernie played oboe, early played saxophone, Bruce played baritone. Earl also played with Herb Miller, Glenn's younger brother, in the circus band, and met Glenn Miller several times. Earl bought an old c-alto sax. He paid $35 for it. Earl bought an old e-flat alto sax when he was in college for $125 (Still played by his daughter, Lori, in the Jeffco Community Band). Earl taught a year in Monte Vista, and then went back to college to work on his Master's degree in Music Education. He worked at dance jobs while he was in college, and worked as a waiter in a hash house in Boulder called MaRhodes. Earl met Della DiRito in Canon City, and they married in 1953. They had 10 children together. Earl lost his wife of 56 years in 2010. He has 39 Grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. For many years, Earl has attended, and served as an Elder at Arvada Presbyterian Church. Earl taught all levels of music in Canon City. He has lived and worked in Bishop California, Denver, Hastings Nebraska, Canon City, Evergreen, and then in Arvada. He also worked at Graul Florist delivering flowers. He was in the Stock Show band for 45 years until the final live stock show band performance. He also played for the circus whenever they were in town. In his retirement, he worked at the airport and at the Rocky Mountain News. Earl and Della moved to The Retreat at Church Ranch where they lived for 2 years. Earl lived at Colorado Lutheran Home in Arvada and played the clarinet with a piano accompanist in the lobby every Wednesday. He played in a clarinet quartet with Glenn McGlathery, Kirk Prichard, and Don Gustafson every Tuesday morning. He liked to watch ball games and visit with folks. He was always so cheerful and positive. He never complained. Dad's philosophy is, ""Live Happy every day and not to let anything ruin your day."" Earl is survived by his 10 children, Ben Bashford and his wife Geri, Joseph Bashford and his wife Lisa, Patrick Bashford and his wife Jenny, William ""Bill"" Bashford and his wife Patti, Robert Bashford and his wife Jamie, Charles Bashford and his wife Stephanie, Julie Collier and her husband Scott, Lori Miller and her husband Kalon, Jennifer Valdez and her husband James, Carolyn Bashford; 37 grandchildren, Nathan Wood, Christina Kauffman and her husband Travis, Chelsea Bashford, Vincent Bashford, Nicolas Collier, Derek Miller, Jamie De Leon and her husband Fernando, Amy Bashford, Sarah Buckley and her husband Jared, Rachel Dahm and her husband Jeremy, Justina Johnson and her husband Cole, Luke Bashford, Kasey Doak and her husband Nathan, Andrew Bashford, Logan Bashford, Kristen Bashford, Kendra Petri and her husband Elliott, Lacey Bashford, Kaitlin Bashford, David Bashford, Jordan Valdez his wife Jysikka, Jackline Valdez, Kori Miller, Danielle Sheehan, Kaylee Vasquez, Samuel Sheehan, Maggie Bashford, Dominic Bashford, Allison Bashford, Nick Vasquez, Isabella Bashford, Lucy Bashford, Angelina Bashford, Jonathan Bashford, Hayden Bashford, Matteo Bashford, Luca Bashford; great-grandchildren, James Buckley, Miles Doak, Adelaide Kauffman, Jensen Buckley. A Visitation will be held Thursday, December 18, 2014 starting at 4:30 PM until 6:30 PM at Horan & McConaty, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado. The Funeral Service will held on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Arvada Presbyterian Church, 5592 Independence Street, Arvada, Colorado. The Interment will immediately follow the Funeral Service at Arvada Cemetery, 5581 Independence Street, Arvada. Memorial Contributions may be made in Earl's honor to: American Diabetes Association 2480 West 26th Avenue Suite 500 C Denver, Colorado 80211 Please share your memories of Earl and condolences with his family by signing the guest book below.