Stanley Stolar, born July 10, 1930 to Anna Wassiluk Stolar and Philip Stolar in Pottstown, PA, passed away peacefully at his home on June 20, 2022.
In high school Stanley was a multi-sport athlete, playing on the baseball, basketball and golf teams including, as a sophomore, competing against Arnold Palmer in the Pennsylvania state golf championships.
Stanley graduated from Pottstown High School in 1948 and joined the United States Navy, serving as a yeoman second class until 1952. During this time, he served honorably in the Korean War on the USS Rochester, initially in the gunnery department and later transferred to ComServPac in Pearl Harbor. He received commendations for meritorious service and outstanding performance from the US Navy.
Stanley worked at Harleysville Insurance Company for 42 dedicated years, starting as a claims adjuster in Lancaster County, PA in 1953, eventually opening a claims office in Media, PA and serving as District Claims Manager there until 1995.
He and his beloved wife of 71 years, Pansy Goodyear Stolar, loved playing golf. After retiring, Stanley and Pansy, his best golf partner, enjoyed many rounds of golf on many beautiful courses during some of their travels. Those travels took them throughout the United States. In addition, they enjoyed several memorable trips to countries in Europe and Central America.
Stanley was a wonderful father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and neighbor. He displayed kindness to everyone he encountered, and was always interested in the details of someone else’s life. He was curious about life and became a self-trained electrician, plumber and wood craftsman, creating many wooden pieces for his grandchildren such as rocking horses, wagons, high chairs and play tables. His love of gardening, learned from his father, was always evident when you were the recipient of his tomatoes, lettuce, peppers or whatever happened to be growing.
Stanley was always true to himself and his core beliefs. He was also always true to others as well; he treated everyone with dignity, grace, and respect. When you had a conversation with Stanley, he was fully invested in you, as if you were the most important person in the world at that time. And to him, at that moment, you probably were. Stanley was a profoundly decent man. He was a great role model: As a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, and as a friend to many. We all learned from him. His unique gifts of empathy, curiosity, wisdom, and faith made him always relevant. You wanted to be with him.
We will greatly miss Stanley Stolar. But he left us with a great gift: showing us what it means to have had a life truly well lived.
Stanley is survived by his wife of 71 years, Pansy Goodyear Stolar, daughters Beth Stolar Candio (Stephen), Michele Stolar Tonge (Ron), Karen Stolar Weber (Andrew); grandchildren Megan Candio (Michael Campbell), Stephen Candio, Brian Tonge (Kristen), Rachel Tonge, Sean Weber, Courtney Weber, Logan Weber; and great grandchildren Henry Tonge, Colin Tonge and Stanley Campbell Candio. He is also survived by his sister Helen Stolar Wiezorek and many loving nieces and nephews in the Stolar, Wiezorek, Paolucci and Pollick families. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers John Stolar and Paul Stolar.
The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for Main Line Health Home Care and Hospice. A memorial service will be held in August. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 400 Lynbrooke Rd, Springfield, PA 19064. 610-543-8700.