Clara V. Stocksdale

Clara V. Stocksdale, age 95, of New Philadelphia, Ohio died this past week in the comfort of her home.

A lifetime resident of New Philadelphia, Clara was born July 15, 1920 to the late William and Bertha (Longenecker) Yaggi. She was a 1938 graduate of New Philadelphia high school and then graduated from Saint Luke’s School of Nursing in 1941.

After graduation, she worked as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio until she enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. She was a medical unit nurse who was stationed in Italy and Africa during her service, and was honorably discharged after obtaining the rank of Captain. Following her service, returned to New Philadelphia to assist with the family business, Yaggi’s Cheese House, and also was a public health nurse for the New Philadelphia City Health Department.

Clara was a lifelong member of the First United Church of Christ, where she sang in the church choir, helped with the church luncheons, and participated in the Young at Heart Club and Call to Care. One of her favorite church activities was the annual Christmas Cookie Walk. She also participated in exercise classes at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover and Clara enjoyed regular breakfast meetings with the neighborhood group.

On September 25, 1948, Clara married Walter I. Stocksdale with whom she celebrated 62 years of marriage prior to his passing on May 2, 2011. They are survived by their children, Susan French of Suwanee, Georgia, and James Stocksdale & Cathy Stocksdale both of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren Brian (Sarah) French of Birmingham Alabama, Amy French of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Alyson, Dain (Chelcie) and Jesse Stocksdale of Columbus, Ohio; one great-grandchild, Genevieve Stocksdale of Columbus, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Clara was preceded in death by a niece, Caroline Yaggi Barnhart; a nephew, Tom Seibold; her siblings, Henry, Isabel (Victor) Maurer, Lillian (Robert) Gooding, Marguerite (John) Seibold, Lucille (James) Campbell, William (Phyllis) Yaggi; and her son-in-law Gary French.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday, March 5, 2016 from 9-10 AM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia. Pastors Jeff Gerber and Jill Lovett will lead a memorial service celebrating Clara’s life in the funeral home chapel on Saturday at 10 AM. Burial with military honors in the East Avenue Cemetery will follow. Following the service, the family wishes to invite guests to a reception in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in Clara’s name may be directed to the First United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 422, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.