Freda E. Stopher

Freda Ernestine (Styers) Stopher was born to Clarence and Charlene Styers on March 20, 1927 in Millfield, Ohio, Athens County, which is still referred to as the Appalachia of southeastern Ohio. Freda was their second child and second daughter. Clarence was a coal miner. He couldnt read or write. Charlene only completed elementary school. She was an avid letter writer and reader of the Bible, the only book in their home. The small Styers family survived the 1920s depression with family love, faith, and a LOT of bean soup. By 1937, three other children, three sons, had joined their family. Unfortunately, by the time the youngest baby was 6 months old, Clarence passed away. Charlene was a young widow with five children ages 6 months to fourteen years. To say it was a hard life was an understatement. Charlenes strong Christian faith and her prayers held the family together. If the church doors were open, the Styers family was there. When Moms big sister started school, she begged to go too. Even though the learning resources in their home were nil, mom was an above average student. She received a booklet, I Am an American recognizing her perfect attendance for the 1940-1941 school year. Freda attended Wilson Jr. High in Newark, OH. In the 1991-1992 school year, Jenny (Cunningham) Trost walked the same halls as her grandmother did 50 years earlier. Then in 2011, Grant Cunningham attended classes in what was part of the Old Newark High School and gym. His grandmother, Freda, was an usherette for basketball games during her high school years in that same gym. Freda met the love of her life, Dwight Stopher, on Thanksgiving Day in 1944 at her Uncle Art Simpsons home on 4th St. in Newark, OH. Dwight and his father (a widower) were rooming at Uncle Arts home. One year later, December 22, 1945, they were married. Dwight was 17 and Freda was 18. Acquaintances said their teen marriage would never last. Dwight and Freda celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary before Dwight passed in 2012. Freda Ernestine Styers Stopher went by many names. Her family could tell when someone phoned her what group of friends, family, church, or loved ones were calling simply by who they asked for. Nieces and nephews called her Aunt Teeny, school and social friends called her Freda, and the multitude of children she kept over the years called her Auntie. Church friends called her Ernestine and Mrs. Maish, her ministers wife called her Ernie. We now call her Mom, Gram, Grandma or Grandma Freda. Fredas family consists of 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela (Preston) Cunningham, Linda Clayton, and Karen (Charles) Baker; 7 grandchildren, Christy (Scott) Caine, Laura (Doug) Giomi, Jenny (Scott) Trost, Grant Cunningham, Scott (Heather) Stopher (deceased), Karla (David) Rison, Kimberly Baker, and Clark (Emily) Baker; 18 great-grandchildren, Jack and Sam Caine, Nicolas, Zachary and Rylan Giomi, Andrew Davidson, Trevor Stopher, Addison Stopher, Veronica and Logan Wilson, Santana Banda, David Charles, Faith and Hope Rison, Chloe, Connor, and Anna Baker; 3 great-great grandchildren, Brayden, Roewynn, and Scottlynn Davidson. Friends and family will be received on Friday, November 16, 2018 from 4-8 pm at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.) where a Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 10:30 am. Interment will be private. Contributions may be made to Northpoint Church of the Nazarene, 5825 Suder Ave. Toledo, OH 43611 or the Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12 St. Lincoln, NE 68528. We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Heartland Home Hospice and The Laurels of Toledo for the love and care given to our mother and concern for our family throughout these last difficult weeks. There definitely are Angels here on Earth.