- Date Of Death: July 22, 2016
- State: Alabama
At 11:33 on Friday morning, with the loving hands of his precious wife, children, and brother laid upon him, prayers of salvation and peace spoken over him by his son-in-law, and strains of Amazing Grace quietly playing, Joseph Carey Stalnaker peacefully slipped from the bonds of his broken tent of human flesh and into the loving arms of his Savior.
Of God’s vast creation, man is the only creature to whom he blessed with tears with which to weep, and, as Ecclesiastes teaches us, there is a time to weep and a time to mourn. Today, Joseph’s loved ones weep and mourn for ourselves and for the loss of our precious husband, father, papa, brother, uncle and friend. But for Joseph, let us shed no tears. Let us instead laugh and dance and rejoice with the angels as he is welcomed into his Savior’s loving arms with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Joseph was preceded in death by his young son, Bruce Edward, his parents, Carey and Lula Dana, two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his soul-mate, his heart, his Barbara Ann, to whom he had been married for over sixty one years on earth but with whom he is bonded forever. He is also survived by his sons, Joseph and Barry; his daughter, Cheryl and her husband, Aaron Humpherys; grandson Noah Humpherys; brothers Coston and Bob; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also adopted and loved by many others who knew him as Dad, Papa Joe, and Paw-Paw.
Found with his wedding ring was a note that stated, “I out grew it & didn’t want to it altered,” along with a poem expressing his love to his precious Barbara Ann that she now sends to him:
Should you go first and I remain,
To walk the road alone,
I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear,
With happy days we’ve known.
In spring I’ll wait for roses red,
In summer a” lilacs blue;
In autumn when the brown leaves fall,
I’ll catch a breath of you.
Should you go first and I remain,
One thing I’d have you do;
Walk slowly down the path of death,
For soon, I’ll follow you
I’ll want to know each step you take,
That I may walk the same,
For someday down that lonely road
You’ll hear me call your name.
