Alma Stahly

Alma Stahly, 102, of Elkhart, died Friday afternoon, September 4, 2009, at Hubbard Hill Estates where she had been since July 27. She was born on July 4, 1907, in Marshall County, Indiana, to the late Jacob V. and Rosina Caroline (Bleile) Yoder.  She married Ward Stahly in Nappanee on December 24, 1933.  He preceded her in death on October 18, 1987. A homemaker and resident of Elkhart since 1933, Mrs. Stahly was a 67 year member of Prairie Street Mennonite Church.  Through 8th grade Alma walked to the one room Cable School in Nappanee following the completion of morning chores.  She attended Nappanee High School for a year and a half until her mother was hit by a car and she had to stay home to care for her.  She would milk the cows everyday before walking the two miles to work, carrying her lunch in a tin pail.  Her first paying job was packing sauerkraut at the Libby-McNeal Sauerkraut plant in Nappanee.  She also worked at the Vitreous Plant in Nappanee making tabletops and adhering trim around the tops.  In the early 1950’s she worked at Crown International wiring chassis. She enjoyed visiting with family and friends.  On most Sunday evenings she would play games and cards with family. She is survived by a daughter, Sharon (Donald) Mockler of Goshen; three grandchildren, Cindy (Dan) Watson and Mike (Jeri) Bailey, both of Elkhart, and Scott (Beth) Bailey of Temecula, California; eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Mary Maude Mullett, Rosa Yoder and Edna Hostetter; and five brothers, Alvin, Jesse, Harvey, William and John Yoder. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 8, at the funeral home. A 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 9, 2009, funeral service will be conducted at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  Great-nephews Pastor Kevin Farmwald and Timothy Yoder will officiate. Burial will follow in Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart. Memorial contributions may be made to Prairie Street Mennonite Church or Little Eden Camp.