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Judge William J. Stoner

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Judge William J. Stoner

Birth	:	5 Nov 1881 Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, USA
Death	:	25 Nov 1950 Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, USA
Burial	:	Wellers Cemetery, Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.6269400, -77.4131400
Description	:	William J. Stoner, Thurmont's well-known blind trial magistrate and former long-time Mayor of that town, died at his home on East Main street there at noon Tuesday. He had been ill since Saturday, when he suffered a heart attack from which he failed to rally. He had observed his sixty-ninth birthday on November 5, A vigorous active man in his native Thurmont community for nearly fifty years. Judge Stoner retained his interest in all community life until his fatal illness despite the loss of his eyesight in 1936. Despite his handicap, he managed to get around during his latter terms... Read More	William J. Stoner, Thurmont's well-known blind trial magistrate and former long-time Mayor of that town, died at his home on East Main street there at noon Tuesday. He had been ill since Saturday, when he suffered a heart attack from which he failed to rally. He had observed his sixty-ninth birthday on November 5, A vigorous active man in his native Thurmont community for nearly fifty years. Judge Stoner retained his interest in all community life until his fatal illness despite the loss of his eyesight in 1936. Despite his handicap, he managed to get around during his latter terms as Mayor and carried on his duties as Trial Magistrate with uncanny efficiency. BECAME BLIND IN 1936 His complete blindness dated back to a rainy afternoon in January 1936 but he prepared himself for the darkness. He started losing his sight in 1931 and had sought the best professional advice and assistance in a tedious effort to save his vision. He was born on a farm near Thurmont on November 5, 1881 and attended Thurmont schools before taking a business course in Baltimore when he was 17. He returned to his fathers's farm and on his twenty-second bithday married M. Gertrude Rouzer, who remained his loyal companion and is his lone survivor. After his marriage, Judge Stoner was employed by his father-in-law, D.R. Rouzer, in the latter's Thurmont dry goods store. In his youth, Judge Stoner was known as the champion bare-knuckle cracker in the community and he fancied fast horses. For years he kept fast driving horses and challenged all rivals to races over country roads. INTESTERED IN BASEBALL He was one of the pillars of the old Frederick County Baeball League and managed several of Thurmont's championship teams. He maintained a keen interest in baseball and in recent years never left business interfere with listening to radio broadcast of the major league contests. He was a great admirer of Connie Mack and a strong supporter of the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Dodgers. Judge Stoner was a past master of Acacia Lodge, A.F. and A. Masons of Thurmont. He was a life-long Democrat and for many years the head of that party in Thurmont District. In 1919 he was elected treasurer of the Thurmont Board of Commissioners and served in that capacity until 1924, when he was named president, which is the mayoral post. He remained Mayor until 1928, when he declined to serve further. Again in 1935, he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as Mayor, continuing until 1945, when he was defeated in a close election. WAS ELECTED 20 TIMES By his own score card, he went before the people 21 times and was elected 20 times. "I never played politics", he once said, "and I never campaigned or asked for a vote." For may years, while serving as head of the town government, he also was superintendent of the Thurmont Municipal Light Company. MAGISTRATE 18 YEARS His service as Trial Magistrate covers a period of 18 years, part of which time his title was Justice of the Peace. In addtioin to his court duties, he also handled the sale of hunting, fishing and dog licenses in that section. He won many friends, not only in his community, but among many others who came in contact with him in his court assignment. Many highway and game law violation cases came to his docket and both officers and defendants found little complaint with the magistrate's homey methods of hearing and weighing the evidence. Many of his warmest friends were persons upon whom he found it necessary to impose penalties. Sate Police teletypes yesterday carried a message to all barracks announcing the death of the magistrate and the time of his funeral. Many of the officers had presented cases before him. Not even the loss of his eyesight disturbed the philosophy of Judge Stoner, who said what he had to say and if others disagreed, he merely gave them credit for their own judgment and passed off the differences with a bit of his humor and a laugh. He made many friends and angered few. FUNERAL THURSDAY "There is much in life that can't be seen," Judge Stoner once told a newspaper reporter, in expressing the hope that others in blindness might take courage from his own example. The deceased was a son of the late John R. and Martha R. Stansbury Stoner. His remains are at his late residence, where friends may call after noon today. Funeral services will be held there Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. Charles H. Corbett will officiate. Interment will be in the United Brethren cemetery. M.L. Creager and Son, funeral directors, have charge of arrangements. The Frederick Post, Frederick, Md November 29, 1950 Obituary courtesy of Blair "Stoney" Stoner.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Judge William J. Stoner's memorial?
Judge William J. Stoner's memorial is located at: Wellers Cemetery, Thurmont, Frederick County, USA.
When did Judge William J. Stoner death?
Judge William J. Stoner death on 25 Nov 1950 in Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Judge William J. Stoner's memorial?
Latitude: 39.6269400
Longitude: -77.4131400

Family Members:

Parent

John R. Stoner

(1825 - 1908)

Martha R. Stansbury Stoner

(1847 - 1918)

Spouse

Mary Gertrude Rouzer Stoner

(1884 - 1977)

Siblings

John T. Stoner

(1878 - 1946)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Wellers Cemetery
Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6269400, -77.4131400

2. Blue Ridge Cemetery
Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6276500, -77.4131200

3. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Cemetery
Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6254807, -77.4113998

4. Apples United Church of Christ Cemetery
Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6307800, -77.3956600

5. Graceham Cemetery
Graceham, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6169014, -77.3786011

6. Harriet Chapel Memorial Garden
Catoctin Furnace, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5800200, -77.4336500

7. Renner Cemetery
Catoctin Furnace, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5756600, -77.4336600

8. Eylers Valley Chapel Cemetery
Sabillasville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6863600, -77.4065900

9. Browns Cemetery
Foxville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6441994, -77.4891968

10. Union Bethel of the Church of God Cemetery
Creagerstown, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5772000, -77.3660400

11. Creagerstown Cemetery
Creagerstown, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5760994, -77.3675003

12. Licklider Family Cemetery
Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5624700, -77.4150200

13. Elder Family Cemetery
Emmitsburg, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6727100, -77.3511600

14. Mount Moriah Lutheran Church Cemetery
Foxville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6479800, -77.4961000

15. Bussard Family Cemetery
Thurmont, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5921105, -77.4889587

16. Saint Anthony's Shrine Cemetery
Emmitsburg, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6804120, -77.3578610

17. Toms Family Cemetery
Foxville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6271200, -77.5036500

18. Monocacy Congregation Church Of The Brethren Cemet
Rocky Ridge, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6060982, -77.3181000

19. Brown Family Cemetery
Foxville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6391300, -77.5112700

20. Mount Tabor Church Cemetery
Rocky Ridge, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6044159, -77.3177338

21. Cronice-Fundenburg Cemetery
Lewistown, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5511800, -77.4302500

22. Mount Bethel Cemetery
Garfield, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6199989, -77.5130997

23. United Brethren Cemetery
Sabillasville, Frederick County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6974800, -77.4560400

24. Eulid Brown Family Cemetery
Smithsburg, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6728300, -77.4959800