Wayne Worford of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep in August 2026 at the age of 100.

Wayne was born in 1926 in Quincy, Kansas. He lost his father at the age of eight; and he and his older brother and sister helped their mother support the family. His mother later remarried, and Wayne helped run the family grocery store and often shared fond stories of helping in his grandparents’ restaurant. He attended school in Hamilton where he lettered in football, basketball, field and track. The family continued to build a life together in Kansas.

Wayne was drafted for World War II and reported for Army Pre-Induction the day after he graduated from High School in 1944. He started basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas and was assigned to the 4th Calvary Division. Wayne boarded the Queen Mary which had been refitted from a passenger ship to transport troops overseas. While stationed overseas, Corporal Worford was engaged in battles in France, Germany and Central Europe. During the battle at Ardennes, his Division was surrounded by Germans. General Patton came to the rescue and the Germans were defeated. Awards received included the Rifle Sharpshooter, Good Conduct Ribbon, European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. After the war ended, he remained in Germany as a Technical Sergeant assigned to headquarters until he was Honorably Discharged in June 1946.

After returning home, Wayne attended Emporia college and earned a degree in accounting. After graduating he started his career at Magnolia Oil which was later acquired by Mobil Oil Corporation where he built a long and successful career with Mobil Oil.

In 1954, while working in Great Bend, KS, Wayne met Melba, the love of his life, at a baseball game in which he was playing. They later married and shared 72 wonderful years together. Melba and Wayne had 4 children; Debi, Steve, Mike and Rich. The family eventually settled in Oklahoma City, where he took great pride in being involved in his children’s lives as a Boy Scout leader and supporter of their sports activities. He later moved to the Denver area and concluded his 35-year career with Mobil Oil as an Accounting Manager. He was deeply proud of his professional accomplishments and the lifelong friendships he formed along the way.

After Wayne finished his career, he and Melba settled into 43 years of retired life. They enjoyed travel including many trips with family and friends. They also participated in bowling leagues, Denver groups and being involved in their grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s lives. Wayne also used his expertise as a successful stock trader and investor during his retirement.

Above all, Wayne was a devoted family man. In the early years, he made certain the family stayed closely connected to their Kansas roots through frequent visits. As the years passed, he and Melba traveled regularly to spend time with their children and grandchildren. He remained especially close to his mother in Kansas and was by her side until the end of her 104 years.

Sports were a lifelong passion. As a young man Wayne played baseball; later he became an accomplished bowler who competed in leagues for many years, earning numerous awards and achieving a perfect 300 game. He enjoyed bowling, golf, ping-pong and billiards with family. He also loved watching sports—attending many Colorado Rockies games, cheering for the Denver Nuggets, the Denver Broncos, and his beloved University of Kansas basketball team. Even in his final days, the Broncos were on his mind; he was surrounded by family for the first game of this new season just days before he passed. Card games were another favorite pastime. Family gatherings almost always included a lively game of cards—a tradition that continued until the very end.

Wayne was a humble, quiet man with a warm sense of humor. He was an extraordinary husband and a steadfast, supportive father. He was always there for his four children, and delighted in his seven grandchildren and his five great-grandchildren. Respected by all who knew him, Wayne will be profoundly missed by his family and many friends.