Graveside service for 1SG (Retired) John T. Gafford, 70, Lawton will be at 2:00pm Monday at Post Cemetery, Fort Sill with Chaplain Dennis King, Faith Hospice officiating. Sergeant Gafford died Thursday at his home in Lawton. Arrangements are under the direction of the Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. He was born April 9, 1940 in Center, Texas to Bert F. and Maurice (Sowell) Gafford. He married Kyong (Tina) Hwang on December 22, 1966 in Seoul, Korea. He served in the United States Army from June 1959 until December 1984, and was proud to serve his country, retiring as a First Sergeant. He served tours in Germany, Korea, Vietnam and Fort Sill. He made Fort Sill his home. While in the Army he earned the following awards, The National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal - 2, Good Conduct Medal-6, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon-2, and the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon-3. After his Army retirement, he worked for various contractors, but retired from I.T.T. as his final job. He saw his most important roles, as a father, husband and grandpa. He was a member of Lawton First Assembly of God Church. He is survived by his wife Kyong (Tina) Gafford of the home, daughter & son-in-law Jeanne and Glynn Preast of Lawton, OK, son and daughter-in-law John Gafford Jr., and Jennifer of Little Elm, TX, his sister and her husband Dorice and Scott Ramsey of Houston, TX, three grandchildren, Isaac and Joshua Preast and Isis Chouchane. He is also survived by his niece Jo Lea and husband Kelly Froehlich and their children Collin and Kyndall. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son Kenneth Wayne Gafford.