George Morford

Apr. 12, 1948 - Dec. 19, 2017 San Jose

George Morford died at home in San Jose, California, unexpectedly but peacefully during a nap, at the age of 69.

George Alfred Morford was born in Ft. Lauderdale, to Thomas Hilterman Morford and Betty Spell Morford. He grew up in Titusville, Florida, in a house his grandfather J.C. Spell had built which is on the National Register of Historic Places. His father Tom Morford passed away when George was 16.

He graduated from Titusville High School and Central Florida University. He served in the Army, stationed in Korea during the Viet Nam war.

He worked as a computer programmer his whole career, first in medical systems in Florida, later for GE in California and then as a contractor. He and Sue raised their children in Walnut Creek, California. In his 40s he took up paragliding and bought a house below his favorite paragliding site, Mission Peak, in Fremont. Always tinkering and pushing the limits of computer technology, in the early days of the www he set-up a camera in his bedroom window that posted a real-time image of the windsock on Mission Peak launching site, on the flying club website so members could see the wind conditions from their computers. He traveled many times to fly in paragliding contests and events, up until he was 67. He also loved sailing, both as a child in Florida and recently in a friend’s sailboat in Vallejo.

He is survived by his wife Diana Wirt, former wife Sue Morford of Fremont, daughters Tracy Morford of Pasadena and Cynthia Morford of Martinez, sonsin-law Troy Walton and Barry Tuttle, and his sister, Willa McGarity of Lilburn, Georgia. His big heart, calm wisdom, twinkly blue eyes and patient technical help will be greatly missed.

An informal memorial gathering is planned for April, at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas.