David (Dave) E. Wilford, 84, of Hazel Crest, IL, formerly of Easton, MD, and Lansing, IL, passed away July 21, 2026.

Loving father of Edward (Elenor) Wilford, formerly of Lansing, IL, now in Cambridge, UK; and Heather (Jeff) Talbert, formerly of Lansing, IL, now in McLean, VA. Dear grandfather of Margaret (Maggie) Talbert, Beatrice (Bea) Wilford, and Greg Wilford.

Also surviving are his brother-in-law, Joe Baird of Sycamore, IL; his sister-in-law, Jolene Baird of Wentzville, MO; his longtime best friend Ed "The Godfather" Lugowski, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dave was preceded in death by the love of his life for 58 years, Bonnie (nee Baird); his parents, Percy and Ruth Wilford; his stepmother, Helen Wilford, formerly of the East Side of Chicago and of Lansing, IL; his in-laws, George and Ruth Baird, formerly of South Chicago, IL, and of Lansing, IL; his brother-in-law, Jim Baird, of Wentzville, MO; and his sister-in-law, Georgiann Baird, of Sycamore, IL.

Dave started his career in the photo department at the Chicago Sun-Times. He then moved into sales within the time clock and parking gate industry, working across Chicagoland and NW Indiana. He advanced to Branch Manager at Simplex and then pivoted to becoming one of the first individuals to achieve 5-star sales status at Circuit City when it opened.

Dave was a passionate Chicago White Sox and Bears supporter. He enjoyed playfully teasing the family, most of whom are devoted Cubs fans. He also appreciated golf and had once been an enthusiastic golfer. However, his greatest pride was in his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He cherished cousin sleepovers with movie marathons, took all the cousins on day trips to Chicago, went to the movie theater with everyone, or simply relaxed by the backyard pool. He cherished friends and never missed a party—whether it was Friday happy hours with "The Neighbor," pizza nights with dear friends, or the infamous Christmas Eve Open House, which he and Bonnie hosted every year. He had a strong sense of direction and hated being late, once arriving at O'Hare for a flight four hours early!

Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Service on Friday, September 18, 2026. Visitation will be held at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Rd., Lansing, IL, from 3:00 p.m. until the service at 7:30 p.m., with the Rev. Suzanne Mondell-Cook officiating. Cremation is private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dave's honor may be made to The Lansing Journal and the Lansing Lions Club.

Dave was loved by many and is deeply missed.