Meadville, PA - John Howard Stanford, 87, of Meadville, PA passed away from natural causes with his family by his side in Atlanta, GA on Friday October 3rd, 2025. John was born at Meadville City Hospital on August 3rd, 1938, the son of the late Howard Bailey Stanford and Winifred Mae Beddows Stanford. John attended John Muir High School in Pasadena, CA and graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sally Lou Hotchkiss Stanford, whom he married on January 22, 1966, and their sons Doug and Keith. John also has three wonderful grandchildren, Ava, Tyler and Audrey.

He taught high school for one year, both in Pasadena, CA and Cleveland, OH before arriving at Meadville High School where he was an educator for the next 37 years. John was a varsity cross country athlete at Allegheny College and coached wrestling at Meadville High School. He was deeply involved in the wrestling community locally and throughout the state of PA and at the national level. After his retirement, John was an active crew member on the USS Niagara sailing out of Erie, PA. He was a master model ship builder in his own time and worked for a period at Litton Industries in Erie, PA building model test vessels.

John and his wife, Sally, also hosted 45 foreign exchange students from 1990-2020, often with a new student each semester. Many of these students make up a broader family that stay in touch to this day.

John and Sally enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to visit locations across the world to attend wrestling events, visit foreign exchange student families, and spend time with their sons and families. John was a loving and supportive parent, coach and friend. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Friends and family are invited to attend a graveside service on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 11 am at New Richmond Cemetery. To send condolences, please visit www.vanmatrefuneralhom.com.