October 2002 in Pennsylvania

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John O. Stoner and Mildred Stoner had four children, John, Peter, Mary and Ruth. Mildred died August 28, 2002. Her ashes were returned to Berlin, PA. Ruth arranged for a memorial service on October 19, 2002 at the Lutheran Church that Mildred and John O. had attended when the children were small.

At the Church

Peter was unable to attend. The first picture shows Mary, John and Ruth (left to right). In the second picture, Rae Musser is on the left. The Musser family had a wonderful pond on their property where we would swim during the summer. I did not get a picture of Nancy Miller, daughter of Louise Miller, who was a good friend of Mildred's. As children we liked the Miller swimming pool.

Mary Stoner Sredanovic, John Stoner, Ruth Stoner Jodon

Rae Musser, Mary Sredanovic, Ruth Jodon, John Stoner

On the left is Paul Pritts, who lived on the farm next to ours; Paul has retired from farming but works with the Historical Society and at the cemetery. In back are Jason, who is engaged to Deanna, and Ruth's daughter, Deanna. In front are Dwight Maust (Jason's mentor in farming) and Dwight's wife.

Paul Pritts, Jason, Dwight Maust, Deanna Jodon Wood, Mrs. Maust

On the Farm

Below the main house on the farm is the so-called little house or spring house. We hypothesize that it was built to house workers during the summer. It has no electricity and no running water, just a spring in the basement where we used to catch salamanders. Nancy Miller told us that Mildred had had a party in the little house and everyone was invited to draw on the walls. We moved empty cartons out so that we could see the walls. We finally found some pencil drawings, but they were disappointing.

Deanna has two horses and a pony for herself and her two daughters.

Ruth suggested a Sredanovic-style farewell photo with everyone on the steps. Back row left to right: Jason (Deanna's fiance), Tom Jodon (Ruth's husband), John Stoner. Middle: Deanna Jodon Wood, Julia Wood (Deanna's older daughter), Ruth Stoner Jodon. Front: Alivia Wood (Deanna's younger daughter).