January 18, 1936 — October 31, 2025

Bobby Joe Alford, 89, of Coushatta, Louisiana, passed away October 31, 2025. He was born January 18, 1936, in Tiptonville, Tennessee, to Arthur I. and Bessie Alford.

Bobby proudly served his nation for over 21 years in the U.S. Air Force with honor and distinction, carrying the values he learned in the military throughout his life. He served in Vietnam in 1966-67 where he was a member of a flight crew that flew 13 hours every other night and their mission was controlling air strikes. After retiring from military service, Bobby worked in the oilfield industry off the coast of Africa for five years.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Linda Alford; daughters Deborah (Doug) Stout and Elizabeth Alford; sister Gloria Corrente; four grandchildren Melissa Babb, Holly Stigall, Blake Lensing and Ashley Lensing; two great grandchildren Collier and Wyatt Stigall; numerous nieces and nephews; and stepchildren Donald (Bo) Messick, Jr. and Dustin Messick.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Helen Juanita Siesky and Opal Louise Schilleci; brothers Arthur I. Alford, Jr., Jeff Thomas Alford, Louis Ray Alford, Griffin Rainey Alford, Jackie Alford, and infant brother Ronnie Alford; brothers-in-law Robert Siesky and John Schilleci; and nephew Martin Venezia.

The family wishes to express special thanks to his doctors for their excellent care — Dr. Gregory Bell, Dr. Igbal Singh, and Dr. Arnold Barz; the Red River Parish Fire Department, the EMTs and the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Department for their responses and tireless efforts shown to him. We also wish to express our sincere thanks to the staff at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home and Christus Hospice during his final days.