Paul Frederick Wofford passed away peacefully at his home on September 29, 2021.
A loving role model and at the same time jack-of-all-trades and specialist, Paul was to his friends, family and employees.
Born on July 29, 1944, the El Pasoan native attended Austin High School (class of 1962) and the University of Texas at El Paso.
He earned an accounting degree and became a chartered accountant while raising his first and second children.
After his first employment with the Shell Oil Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, he joined the US Army in 1968 and became 2nd Lieutenant after completing his OCS training. He fought in the Vietnam War in Kontum as a helicopter pilot and then became an operations officer of his flying unit and received the Bronze Star for bravery.
After serving in the war, he returned to El Paso in 1972 and moved to his father’s cattle ranch near Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico to serve as a livestock veterinarian for several years. Other cattle breeders came to see him because he was very successful in increasing the number of cattle and keeping them healthy.
He returned to the United States and moved to Farmington, New Mexico in 1979 to work for his brother-in-law, Ernie Hunsaker of Hunsaker International (Heavy Duty Truck Dealership), as the company’s CFO.
In 1984 Paul moved back to El Paso and bought a small Toyota 1-Ton truck with very little money and started his business delivering truck parts to deep Mexico and all of West Texas.
Working from his dining room table, he ended up renting a warehouse on Rojas Drive in El Paso, calling his company Wofford Truck Parts. Years later, success and demand in the industry led to the opening of branches in Carlsbad, NM, and Pecos, Texas.
What became a multimillion dollar company was built with the help and hard work of the employees at Wofford Truck Parts. Paul believed in his co-workers, valued them, and treated them like family. Many said he was one of the most approachable managers they had ever met and that he always had time to visit.
Paul was passionate about his work, mustering perseverance, and showing his love to his friends and family. He enjoyed several hobbies including golf, shooting at the rifle range, fishing, airplane flying, comic book collecting, and traveling.
Paul is preceded in death by his sons Paul Frederick Wofford Jr., Wesley Omar Wofford and Mark Wofford; and parents, William Tracy Wofford and Ruth Price Wofford; together with the sisters Betty (Chickie) Hunsaker and Barbara Johnson.
He leaves behind his 15-year-old wife Esperanza Imelda Wofford; Daughter, Sheila Wofford Fleissner, Patrick Wofford Carroll; and grandson Joshua Wofford. He is also survived by his brother William Tracy Wofford Jr. and many special nieces and nephews.
A funeral with military honors was held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on October 6, 2021.
The Wofford family would like to thank all of Paul’s friends and family who stood by their side during this difficult time, and especially his loyal employees who worked tirelessly and successfully managed the business even during Paul’s illness.
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