Rufus F. Hansford, Sr., 79, of Campbellsville, KY, son of the late “W. L.” Hansford and Ruby Garrison Hansford, was born October 23, 1939 in Casey County, KY. He died at 11:40 A.M., Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in Campbellsville.
He professed faith in Christ and was a member of Robinson Creek Baptist Church.
The son of a farmer and real estate speculator, he had professed early on that he wanted to be a truck driver. His father could see his path leading to auctioneering as Rufus was mimicking the auctioneers as early as age five. On Fridays at Jacktown Elementary, he held an auction featuring the lost pens and pencils and his talents grew until he began to win state FFA contests at the state fair as a teenager in 1957. Only two weeks into a summer job as the pull boy for American Tobacco Company in South Carolina, Rufus filled in for an ill auctioneer. In 1959, he began employment as an auctioneer with Kessler & Cowherd Auction & Real Estate Company and in 1960, he joined the Kentucky Auctioneers Association, with which he served on many committees, boards and even as president in 1984, he was inducted into the KAA Hall of Fame and was awarded the Champion Bid Caller. In 1970, he founded the Hansford Auction & Real Estate Company. From 1981-1986, he was a finalist in the World Tobacco Auctioneer Championship and in 1987, he was the second runner up. Rufus’ career continued on with many awards, trophies, memorable moments and numerous communities served around Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
He united in marriage to Doris Jones December 29, 1990.
SURVIVORS: Wife, Doris Hansford of Campbellsville; 2 sons: Frankie Hansford (Connie) and Robert “Bam” Hansford (Angela) of Campbellsville, 2 step-children: Mitchell Jones of Campbellsville and Connie Edelen (Tony) of Bardstown; 6 grandchildren: Cody Gowin, Weston Jones (Hannah), Macaela Roz Hansford and Logan Hansford of Campbellsville, Ryan Shuffett (Lindsey) of Greensburg and Raina Brooke Simpson (Dustin) of Somerset; 7 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters: Genevieve McKinley of Leitchfield, Shirley Holt of Cox’s Creek and Faye Close (Russell) of Indian Harbour Beach, Florida; several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
He was also preceded in death by one son, William Harold Hansford May 18, 1966; one grandson, Morgan Jones and two brothers and three sisters: Louis Kenneth Hansford, Joseph Russel Hansford, Ida Belle Collins, Geraldine Henshaw and Bobby Jean Glasscock.
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VISITATION: 4:00 - 8:00 P.M., Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 P.M., Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home in Campbellsville by Rev. Jim Collison, III
BURIAL: Brookside Cemetery
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY REQUESTED TO BE DONATIONS TO HOSPARUS OF GREEN RIVER AND MAY BE MADE AT PARROTT & RAMSEY FUNERAL HOME
