Obituary

Earl r. “rusty” stalnaker, of charleston, died february 23, 2017, at the age of 92. He was a resident of edgewood summit.

Rusty was born november 9, 1924, on grass run in gilmer county, w,va., to the late edna and delbert stalnaker. He attended glenville state college and west virginia university (wvu), graduating from wvu in 1948. Rusty went on to attend both yale university and the university of iowa during his military training.

He entered the u.S. Army air corps in 1943 as a private and was honorably discharged as a 1st lieutenant in 1946, having served in the philippine islands during world war ii.

He had a 36 year career with the chesapeake and potomac telephone company of west virginia, working in wheeling, huntington, beckley and charleston. In 1971, he formed stalnaker enterprises, inc., a real estate company in charleston and was active in development and building in the south hills area of charleston.

Rusty was a member of charleston baptist temple since 1960, serving in many roles from youth teacher to diaconate. He was also a member of the telephone pioneers of america and the charleston lions club, and enjoyed hosting the wviac basketball league. He volunteered in the community, serving as president of the community council of the kanawha valley, and working with hospice house, habitat for humanity, meals on wheels, west virginia harvest, kanawha pastoral counseling service, charleston housing fair hearing panel, and community music of charleston.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, anna lou sinnett of spencer, w.Va.; infant son, james earl stalnaker; sister, georgia pearl mccartney, and brother, jack vincent stalnaker, both of glenville, w.Va.

He is survived by his current wife, joanne “jody” connell; four daughters, laura jane lenhart and amy leigh hall of columbus, ohio, rebecca ann miller of mooresville, n.C., and sara beth casingal (paul) of charleston, w.Va.; eight grandchildren, johanna lenhart and jamie cmehil of columbus, ohio, ryan bates of charlotte, n.C., bradley miller of mooresville, n.C., alex, catherine, mia and drew casingal of charleston, w.Va.; and one great-grandchild, olivia cmehil of columbus, ohio. Also surviving are two stepsons and a stepdaughter: gary connell and family of buckhannon, w.Va., dana connell and family of chicago, ill., and carrie lynn bullock and family of winston salem, n.C.

A memorial service will be 2 p.M., sunday, february 26, at baptist temple, charleston. Visitation with family will immediately follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the baptist temple memorial fund or to hospice house of charleston, west virginia.

Barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.Barlowbonsall.Com.