James Woodford Stogner, Sr., aged 82 years, went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 9, 2014. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church with Chaplain James Woodford Stogner, Jr. officiating. Graveside services will follow on Friday at 9:15 a.m. at the D/FW National Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
J.W. was born November 4, 1931 in Walthall County, Mississippi; on June 6, 1959 he married the love of his life, Janelle Clark in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they resided until their move to Greenville, Texas in 2003.
J.W. served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Korean War. He served aboard the USS Iowa BB-61 as a Gunner's Mate Third Class and as a bookkeeper. Since his retirement, J.W. and Janelle have enjoyed traveling to the various USS Iowa reunions around the country. J.W. taught the adult men's Sunday School at Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge for many years as well as serving as Chairman of Deacons. He was also greatly involved in the Sunday School and prayer ministry at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville. Always greatly involved with his family, J.W. enjoyed spending time with them, going fishing, playing with his dog, Toodles, and sitting on his porch drinking coffee.
J.W. is survived by his wife, Janelle; three children and their spouses, James Jr. and Cynthia Patrick, Celia Ann Stogner and Ken Dickinson, Stormy Elizabeth Stogner and Thony Medina; sister, Nell Stogner Boone; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson: James III, Benjamin, Victoria, Patrick, Sarah, Noemi, Joshua, Alexander, McKenzie and Malaiki.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dale, Bruce, & Kendall Hudson, Ken Dickinson, Thony Medina, and Malaiki Stogner.
All who encountered J.W. were left with an impression of his sweetness, his gentleness and gentlemanly manner and how the love of Christ shone through his life and all he did.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pacific Battleship Center, home of the USS Iowa, www.pacificbattleship.com.