Diana Warford Stanley

Phoenix – Diana Jean Warford Stanley, matriarch of the expansive Stanley clan, went home December 11, 2021, joining her beloved Glenn and son, Glenn III "Tinker." Diana was born November 9, 1928 on a farm near what is now Metrocenter to Luther Abner and Maude Kirby Warford. The last of five children, she was admittedly a spoiled brat (she regrets the day she told us she kicked her grandma in the shin because she felt like it) and was the first in her family to graduate from college, obtaining an education degree (with distinction) from the University of Arizona. But the minute she met Dad (Glenn) at age 11, her disposition changed. From that point forward she was laser-focused on landing the man of her dreams, whom she married in 1948 (while both were still students at the U of A) and then raising a family of perfect, good-looking, generous, smart and humble children. She spent many years patiently teaching children in the Alhambra Elementary School District and was a faithful member of First Christian Church in Phoenix. Mom and Dad relocated to Tucson in 1989, where they spent the next two decades reliving their glory days with football and basketball season tickets (and tailgaters). They returned to the Valley in 2008 to be near their family. She loved God, summers in Pinetop and family gatherings where she managed to be the center of attention, even when our numbers topped 40. Diana was preceded to heaven by her parents, four siblings, husband Glenn and son Tinker. She leaves her legacy with her six children who will continue their entertaining Zoom calls that were initiated to keep Mom company during the pandemic: Cathy Boyd (Bob), Barbara DeMichele (Mark), Greg (Patti), Liz Meyers, Sara Fleury (Charles) and Mark (Jodi). She also has 15 grandchildren with great stories of Grandma and 13 great-grandchildren (and another on the way). A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church on January 8 at 11 a.m. Gifts in Diana's memory can be made to the University of Arizona Foundation.