William E. Stocksdale

William Eldred “Bill” Stocksdale, age 91, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2011, in Union Hospital at Dover. Born in his family home at New Philadelphia, August 11, 1919, he was a son of the late William and Ida Beehler Stocksdale. Bill was a 1937 graduate of New Philadelphia High School who proudly served in the European Theatre as a Corporal during World War II. He was one of the many American soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France in June, 1944, Bill’s participation coming the day after the massive invasion known as D-Day. Bill was injured during the landing and earned a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained that day. Once back in the Tuscarawas Valley, Bill never forgot about his comrades in the armed services. For more than sixty years, he participated in the Military Funeral Detail of the New Philadelphia Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, an organization in which he served as commander from 1974 to 1976 and held life membership. Bill was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and served as commander of the former local chapter. For most of his life, Bill worked as a truck driver with the former Breyer Trucking. When not working, he enjoyed gardening and traveling, especially with his late longtime companion, Pauline Marlett, whom he met after the war, and then later in life, dancing the night away with his other longtime companion, Mary Conconi, who is also deceased. Survivors include his sisters; Ella Delores Stover of New Philadelphia, and Elsie Jenkins of Wadsworth, O. Close friends David and Liz Hipp and Carol Rhodes as well as numerous nieces and nephews complete the family. Friends are invited to call Thursday afternoon from 5 to 7 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Hugh B. Berry will officiate Mr. Stocksdale’s funeral Friday morning at 11AM in the funeral home’s chapel, where the family will also receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial, with military honors, will follow in New Philadelphia’s Evergreen Burial Park. Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the funeral home’s website.