Obituary of William R. Stalnaker

Ocala - William R. (Bill) Stalnaker, 78, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Rochester, NH and moved to Wildwood, FL in 1947 to pursue job opportunities. He was a graduate of Wildwood High School and worked for the Seaboard Railroad and Dandee Bread Co. and then moved to Ocala in 1960. He started in the car business with Pine Street Motors and acquired Ocala Lincoln-Mercury in 1968. He was the Owner-Operator of Ocala Lincoln-Mercury for 42 years and Owner of Long Hammock Ranch in Oxford. He was a member of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church and served his country in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed cattle ranching, quail hunting, NASCAR racing and Atlanta Braves baseball. He was a member of the Downtown Development Committee for Ocala, longtime supporter of the Royal Dames for Cancer Research, member Ocala Elks Lodge No. 286, Marion County Cattlemen's Assn., CFCC Foundation and the Munroe Regional Development Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Stalnaker, his daughter, Cindy Stalnaker Lacasse, his brother, Richard Stalnaker, his granddaughters, Lacy Jernigan Sapp and Christy Jernigan Santi, his great grandchildren, Emma Shea Santi, Jacob, Andy and Abigail Sapp all of Ocala and his cousins, Sally Shea Burr and Carroll J. Shea both of Union, NH. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn Thomas Stalnaker in 1963. A Funeral Mass will be said on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church with Father Pat Sheedy officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM on Thursday at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.