Reldon Lory Stahly

Reldon Lory Stahly, 95, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, May 20, 2016, at Chateau Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 6, 1920, in Carlock, Illinois, to the late Ali G. and Anna Weidinger Stahly. He was married to Lillian E. Zimmerman on May 3, 1942, in Carlock.

Lory graduated in 1939 from Carlock Township High School.

In 1940, Mr. Stahly attended the Aircraft Engineering Institute in St. Louis. He became a test flight engineer for Martin Marietta Manufacturing Co. in Baltimore.

Lory served in the U.S. 7th Army 100th division during World War II from 1944 to 1946.

From 1949 to 1964, Mr. Stahly was a managing partner in Stahly Enterprises, Cape GMC Truck and the J.I. Case Dealership in Cape Girardeau. From 1967 to 1976, Mr. Stahly became a stockbroker with the New York Stock Exchange, employed by G.H. Walker and Company in Cape Girardeau and Kohlmeyer and Company in St. Louis. From 1971 to 1981, Mr. and Mrs. Stahly owned and operated Reed's Corner Restaurant and Mobile Service Center in Moberly, Missouri. After retirement in 1981, Lory and Lillian resided in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, for 14 years, enjoying their home on the lake. They returned to Cape Girardeau in 1999 and have been residing at Chateau Girardeau since 2011.

Mr. Stahly was active in Boy Scouts of America, both at the troop and district levels. He was a board member for Cape State Bank, and on the board of trustees for Cape Girardeau Rotary Club. He was treasurer of the board of trustees for the Masonic Lodge and a member of the American Legion Finance Commission. He was a longtime member of Cape Girardeau Pilots' Club.

His honors throughout his life included being deputy sheriff and pilot for the sheriff of Cape Girardeau. He was a member of the American Legion Baseball Commission, served as Missouri State commander of the American Legion from 1960 to 1961 and he presented President Harry S. Truman his honorary Past Department Commander of Missouri Citation at the Truman Library. Mr. Stahly also toured NATO military installations with the National Security Commission.

He enjoyed piloting his personal aircraft many years for both pleasure and business; that included flying petroleum pipeline from Missouri to Kansas and Missouri to Illinois and Iowa. He took many kids and adults on their first airplane rides over the years. His favorite times were enjoying weekends on Kentucky Lake and retirement in Hot Springs Village, boating and water-skiing with his children, grandchildren and many other friends and family members.

Mr. Stahly worshipped at First Presbyterian Church for many years, and enjoyed being a part of establishing Cape Bible Chapel, where he was active in Sunday school, small group and services.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian Z. Stahly of Cape Girardeau; his four children, Dr. Randall Lory Stahly (Patricia Lampitt Stahly) of Cape Girardeau, Joseph Michael Stahly (Jane Dunklin Stahly) of Cape Girardeau, Rebecca Stahly Younghouse (Daniel Younghouse) of Albertville, Alabama, and William Kent Stahly (Shirley Stahly) of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Verda Maurer of Los Angeles; and a brother, Ali Stahly Jr. of Morton, Illinois. He was blessed with grandchildren Jodi, Jamie and Jonathan Stahly, Michael and Lauren Stiles and Samuel Lory Stahly; stepgrandchildren Elizabeth (Younghouse) and Lee Seal, Jay and Rebecca (Younghouse) Myers, and Patrick, William, Tyler, Margaret and Jordan Younghouse. He so enjoyed his great-grandchildren Lily Pearl Stahly and Tripp Stahly; and great-stepgranddaughter Margaret Hadley Seal.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Cloyd, Maurice and Norval Stahly; and sisters Etta Stahly, Opal Sherrick, Lola Amberg and Lorene Reeser.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, with Dan Greene officiating. An American Legion service will follow the memorial service at the chapel. Interment will be at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Cape Bible Chapel or American Legion Post 63.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.