Eva Florence STAHLL

STAHL, TALLEY, BEALL, SHAFER, KIND, BEYMER, DINKEL, HUGHES, WALL, SWAN, CLOUGH, MCCALLON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/30/2011 at 13:43:07

OBITUARY ~ EVA FLORENCE STAHL

Eva Florence STAHL, the daughter of Michael and Mary TALLEY STAHL, born February 14, 1875 in Grant Township, Ringgold County, Iowa, and passed away May, 4, 1964 in Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr. She was the youngest and last survivor of a family of ten children.

She received her elementary education in the rural schools and advanced education at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, where she Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1901 and at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where she received a Masters Degree in 1911. She chose teaching as a profession and served in the high schools of Indianola, Mount Ayr, and Fort Dodge for twenty years as a member of the faculty at Simpson College. During her Simpson College period she toured Europe on a leave of absence in 1930 with her sister Josephine who was returning from India. Many of the students who came under her direction maintained contacts with her during the years and brought her much pleasure and satisfaction.

When the family homestead in Grant Township was no longer the family center she made her home with her sister, Mrs. R. S. Beall, in Mount Ayr during vacations from teaching. After her retirement Simpson College she became a part of the household of her brother-in-law, R. S. BEALL, and made a home for both of them until his death in 1946. She had been in failing health for several years and since February 1963 she had lived at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr of which she was a trustee.

In childhood she became a member of the Goshen Methodist Church which later moved to Diagonal, Iowa. Her religious life was important to her and she was active in all the work of the church. Her interest in Missions was intensified by her sister Josephine's long service as a missionary in India. She prized the Life Membership award and pin presented to her by friends while she was President of the Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Mount Ayr Methodist Church.

She read much and widely and maintained a keen interest in and Knowledge of public affairs - local, national and international. Her cultural interests were many and her conversation was stimulating. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the P.E.O., Sisterhood, the Women's Federated Club and the Iowa Historical Society and the Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Melissa (Mrs. George SHAFER); Sarah, Josephine, Martha (Mrs. R. S. BEALL); Mary Jane (Mrs. Charles KING); and Luella, and by her brothers Grant, Sherman and Edgar.

Left to cherish her memory are eight nieces, Mrs. Estella BEYMER, Mrs. Nora DINKEL, Mrs. Inez HUGHES, Mrs. Sadie WALL, Mrs. Mabel WALL, Mrs. Nellie SWAN, Mrs. Helen CLOUGH, Mrs. Bessie McCALLON and two nephews, Chester SHAFER and Merrill KING and a number of grandnieces and nephews in all of whom she took great interest.

NOTE: Eva was interred at Bethel Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Submission by Mike Avitt, April of 2011