NAPPANEE – Kenton “Barney” Stouder, 89, of Nappanee, died at 2:20 p.m. Aug. 26, 2012, in Elkhart General Hospital, where he was for the past two days.
He was born Nov. 20, 1922, in Nappanee, to Joseph D. and Susan Pippenger Stouder. On Sept. 25, 1946, in Nappanee, he married June Tobias, who survives.
He went to Nappanee High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II. He was in the 359th Engineering, and served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was at Normandy Beach on the third day. He courageously earned the EAME Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Awards and a Victory Medal. He worked at Mutschler’s Brothers and Heckaman Dairy as a delivery man, Templeton Shell and Desco Chemicals and retired from Nappanee Wood Products Jan. 30, 1988, and retired from custodial work at the Nappanee city offices.
He was a member of Nappanee United Methodist Church; Goshen Veterans of Foreign Wars; Bashor Council 15, Goshen; the Goshen Commandry 50 Knights Temple; 32 degree Mason South Bend Scottish Rite; and Mizpah Temple Shrine, Fort Wayne. He was a past member of the Nappanee Park and Recreation Board; a member and past Commander of Nappanee American Legion 154, where he also served as chaplain for many years; a member and past master of Nappanee Masonic Lodge 556; member and past high priest of Nappanee Chapter 155 Royal Arch Masons; member and past patron Order of the Eastern Star 367, Nappanee; an 18-year member of the Nappanee Civil Defense and Auxiliary Police from 1957-73); and a former member of the Nappanee Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also managed the American Legion baseball team for three to four years, and was a supporter of Boys Town, Knightstown.
Also surviving are two daughters, Brenda (and spouse Denny) Heckaman, Goshen, and LeaAnn Brown, Nappanee; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a brother, Lamar Stouder, Nappanee. He was preceded in death by granddaughter, three sisters and seven brothers.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Nappanee United Methodist Church with the Revs. Linda Craig and Janet McFall-Brown officiating. Burial will be in Union Center Cemetery with military graveside services.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. ***** Memorials may made to the Nappanee American Legion or to Nappanee United Methodist Church.
