Donald Stallsmith

Donald Stallsmith, 95, of Deer Creek Township passed away on the afternoon of April 5, surrounded by family, on the Hadley farm where he was born on May 27, 1928 and had resided for nearly a century. The ninth and youngest child of George and Retta (Maskrey) Stallsmith, he assumed responsibility for the farm as a teenager while his older brothers went to war and would continue his love of the land for the rest of his life.

His other loves were his wife, Lois (Blood), whom he met at the Sheakleyville homecoming and the children they would raise together. Although they lost their first two babies early due to severe birth defects, Don and Lois then were rewarded for their faith and fortitude with six healthy children. 

Supplementing his farm income with a job as a rural mail carrier, Don reportedly was one of those by whom people could set their clocks. He often hand-delivered letters to his most elderly customers or even took them shopping.   

Having long served as Sunday school superintendent and trustee of the West Fairfield Wesleyan Methodist Church, he continued to attend that “church in the wildwood” from the time he cut across fields to it as a boy to when he shuffled up the ramp supported by a cane. His faith as unfaltering as his attendance, Don also had a mischievous sense of humor, composed amusing, rural, or Christian poems in his head while he farmed, and could still quote them by heart in his 90s.

To paraphrase one of his own poems, “It behooves us to live a life full of meaning. Ninety-five years in heaven is just a beginning. “

Don is survived by his children Brett Stallsmith of Hadley, Audrey Stallsmith of Hadley, Karen Jackson of Conneaut Lake, Aleta Gall and her husband Richard of Hadley, Loren Stallsmith, Hadley,  Carter Stallsmith of Atlantic, a daughter in law, Liza Stallsmith and sixteen beloved grandchildren: Alan, Randy, Erika, Cody, Summer, Victoria, Tansy, Lark, Patrick, Gale, Lynora, Natasha, Logan, Trevor, Dylan, and Savannah and one great-grandson Bryer.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, two infant sons, Randy and Kent Stallsmith, and by his brothers Joseph and Andew Stallsmith and his sisters, Elsie Boyd, Marie Stallsmith, Alice Allen, June Turner, Eudora Van Dyke, Susie Blackwood, and Nellie Stallsmith.  

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Robert L. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 3223 Perry Hwy., Sheakleyville with Rev. Harold Troyer, retired pastor, and George Gee, substitute pastor, of the West Fairfield Wesleyan Methodist Church officiating. The committal service and interment will follow at the Sheakleyville Cemetery, Sandy Creek Twp. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6-8 pm and on Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Memories and condolences may be posted online at www.snyderfh.com

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