Friends remember Wayne Stahl as a link to town’s history

Local icon passes away

By: Lacey Korevec
   A loving family man, a local historian, a hard worker and an active volunteer.
   So many Cranbury residents remember Wayne Stahl in a number of different ways because of the many roles he played in the community’s present and past.
   Thomas Wayne Stahl, 97, a lifelong resident of Cranbury, died Tuesday at the University Medical Center at Princeton.
   To the Cranbury Lions Club, Mr. Stahl, who became a member in 1938 and served as president from 1955 to 1956, served as link to the organization’s past. Mr. Stahl, who continued to be active in the organization, even over the past few years, was originally sponsored by Doc Miller, the first president of the Cranbury Lions Club, Vice President Bob Virgadamo said.
   "He still remained active," Mr. Virgadamo said. "He was of great assistance to me personally in helping with historical items for the club and he was just a very nice man, very pleasant to be around. And I know that he is going to be greatly missed."
   Born Dec. 30, 1908, Mr. Stahl was a member of the United Methodist Church in Cranbury for approximately 85 years, the Rev. Jack Foster said.
   The Rev. Foster said he will remember Mr. Stahl as a man of deep faith, who loved the church and served on many of its committees.
   He had been a Llay Mminister since 1945 and a member of the Administrative Board. He was also Ssuperintendent of Sunday School from 1945 to 1970 and served as a Mminister of Vvisitation for many years.
   "He had a compassionate heart and he loved people of all ages," the Rev. Foster said. "He was always doing favors for people and went out of his way to help them."
   The Rev. Foster said he’s known Mr. Stahl and his family for many years.
   "He would have been 98 at the end of this month," he said. "And both he and his wife are just treasures. Often, people just adopt them as their grandparents. And he’s been a good friend to me."
   His parents, both deceased, were Herbert and Elizabeth Hutton Stahl. He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Ethel Holston Stahl; his two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Wayne and Audrey Danser Stahl of North Fort Meyer, Fla., and Richard Harry and Lynn Taylor Stahl of Medford Lakes; seven grandchildren; and 10 great- grandchildren.
   When asked to recall his favorite memory of Mr. Stahl, the Rev. Foster said there were too many. But he did say he will remember how Mr. Stahl always sat at the exact same pew his grandmother sat at, and was proud to do so.
   The Rev. Foster said Mr. Stahl knew nearly everything about the history of the church and would stay there during the Historical and Preservation Society’s annual Walking Tours to tell tourist’s about the building’s past.
   "He would station himself at the church to share the history of the church. Even up until last year he did that and would tell people all about the history of the church," the Rev. Foster said. "And he didn’t mind correcting me when I was wrong about it, too."
   History was an important hobby of Mr. Stahl’s, Township Historian Betty Wagner said, adding that Mr. Stahl was an asset to the Historical Society.
   "He had a fabulous memory and when we all got stumped on questions about Cranbury of the past, we could always count on Wayne to come through," Ms. Wagner said. "He had a great recollection of the things that have gone on in Cranbury. So, he was an historian in his own way."
   Mr. Stahl, who attended Hightstown High School and Rider College, joined the Cranbury Fire Company in 1928 and served as president and chaplain for a number of years. In 1937, he began serving as a Cub and Boy Scout leader and was an honorary Eagle Scout at age 93. He was also a Master Mason of the Hightstown-Apollo Lodge No. 41 F&AM in 1967. Mr. Stahl was also a blood donor 16 times during World War II and was recognized in 1980 as Citizen of the Year.
   Mr. Stahl worked as Ppostmaster of the Cranbury Post oOffice for 25 years, retiring in 1965 and also worked as the former Ttownship Ttax Aassessor and Rregistrar of Vvital Sstatistics in Cranbury. Mr. Stahl was a former director and president for Cranbury Savings & Loan and a former director for Family Savings & Loan. He also worked for a time at Wrights Roses, Forsgate Farms as a bookkeeper and at Albert C. Barclay Insurance Agency and Law Office.
   "He will always be known for his generosity and his good spirit and kindness," the Rev. Foster said.
   Friends and relatives are invited to call Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at A.S. Cole Son & Co. Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., Cranbury. The Rev. Foster will be officiating.
   A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Cranbury, 21 N. Main St., Cranbury.
   Interment will follow in Westminster Cemetery, Cranbury.
   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Cranbury, 21 N. Main St., Cranbury, N.J. 08512.