John J. Stolar

John J. Stolar was born on April 29, 1917 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, just a few years after his parents, John and Zuzanna Stolar, immigrated from Czechoslovakia. His parents moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio when John was just 4 years old and then he lived the majority of his life in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio. He was the oldest of four children, followed by his sister Ann, his sister Mary and his brother George. He grew up speaking fluent Slovak at home with his family and he learned to speak English in school. John attended Lorain High School, graduating in 1935.

In 1942, at the age of 25, he became a member of the United States Navy. He served in World War II as a proud Seaman on the USS Mobile, commissioned on March 24, 1943. While aboard ship, he worked in the store room where he was in charge of issuing and inventorying equipment. He also played the bass fiddle as part of the Navy band.

After four years in the military, John moved to Athens, Ohio where he attended Ohio University, graduating in the spring of 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. It was there in Athens where he met his wife, Bernice Warner, and they were married on November 26, 1949 when John was 32 years old and his wife was 24. Together they moved back to Lorain, Ohio where he worked in finance at The Lorain Koehring Company and they raised their three children Marilyn, Neil and Marvin.

Throughout his lifetime, John enjoyed walking, bowling, playing on softball leagues, listening to big band music, reading the newspaper, spending time with his family (especially his grandchildren), attending sporting events and watching his favorite teams on TV. Through good seasons and bad, he always remained a faithful fan of his hometown teams, The Ohio State Buckeyes, The Cleveland Indians and The Cleveland Browns.

In 1998, John and Bernice moved to Miamisburg, Ohio in the area where his daughter and her children were living. In April of 2000, his beloved wife of 51 years passed away after a sudden illness. In 2001, at the age of 84, John married a sweet lady by the name of Martha Bowman who became a dear companion to him until she passed away nine years later in April of 2010. While living in Miamisburg, Ohio John attended Washington Heights Baptist Church and New Jersey Presbyterian Church.

On Sunday evening, October 9, 2011, John J. Stolar, passed away at the age of 94 years old. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Zuzanna Stolar; his first wife of 51 years, Bernice Stolar and his second wife of 9 years, Martha Stolar; his son, Marvin Stolar; and his brother, George Stolar. Survivors include his children, Marilyn Deaton and Neil Stolar; his sisters, Ann Haywood and Mary Miller; his grandchildren, Tracy Hensley, Allison Misere, Gary Totten, Megan Harber, Tanya Camera, Amber Stolar, Lacy Stolar and Bryce Stolar; and ten great grandchildren. John touched the lives of many people with his contagious smile, his outgoing and friendly personality, and he maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. He was a dear man and will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation on Wednesday October 12, 2011 from 6pm to 8pm and a funeral service on Thursday October 13, 2011 at 1:30pm at the Newcomer Funeral Home (South Chapel), Kettering, Ohio. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Miamisburg, Ohio. The family requests that any donations be sent to Kingston of Miamisburg Nursing Home or Crossroads Hospice of Dayton in appreciation of the wonderful people who gave such loving care to John and his family over the past couple of years.