Earl Stogsdill, Jr.

Earl Stogsdill Jr., age 97, passed peacefully on Thursday evening, January 29, 2026. With a quiet exhale and no struggle, he stepped from this life into eternity, present with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He was born September 3, 1928, in Norwood, Ohio, to Earl Stogsdill Sr. and Stella (Hargis) Stogsdill. Earl represented the first generation of the Stogsdill family to live outside of Appalachia since the family’s arrival in America in the 1600s, when Jeremie Stogsdill migrated from England. Though his birthplace marked a geographic shift, his roots remained firmly planted in the Appalachian heritage that shaped his character, faith, and values.

When Earl was just two years old, his mother passed away, along with his youngest brother. Earl, along with his older brother Edward and sister Edith, were taken into the home of his mother’s family near Nancy, Kentucky. There they were raised in a close-knit family environment and attended New Hope Baptist Church—a church founded upon the Gospel, with deep historical ties reaching back to Daniel Boone’s family and to John Gano, chaplain to George Washington. Earl’s grandfather and great-grandfather both pastored this church, and his mother is buried there, grounding his life story in a faith legacy that spanned generations.

As a young man, Earl moved to the Indianapolis area, where he met his wife Ruby, herself a “replanted” Appalachian from southeastern Kentucky. They married and shared 47 years together, raising their children and building a life marked by hard work, faith, and devotion to family. Ruby went home to be with the Lord in April of 1998, a loss Earl carried quietly but deeply.

In later years, Earl married Judy, and together they enjoyed their golden years with companionship, care, and mutual devotion.

At 97 years old, Earl was the longest-living Stogsdill in his known family line dating back to the 1400s—and he did not waste those years. When his two oldest children were still small, Earl trusted Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. Shortly afterward, he and Ruby built their family home in New Palestine, Indiana, setting a spiritual course that would shape their children and many generations to follow. His daily prayers were for his family—their well-being and, above all, their salvation.

Earl’s life was consistently connected to the local church. Upon profession of faith, he and Ruby were baptized and became members of Shelbyville Baptist Temple. From there, they worshiped at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield until the formation of Victory Independent Baptist Church, where Earl, Ruby, and their two younger sons were charter members. He later transferred membership to Hancock Baptist Temple, remaining there until his second son began Old Landmark Baptist Church in northern Hancock County, where Earl and Ruby again became charter members. Church was not merely a habit for Earl—it was a lifelong commitment.

Beyond church life, Earl was a working man in the truest sense. A machinist by trade, he spent his career in machine shops, including years owning and operating his own shop. He loved working with his hands and took pride in doing things well. He was a sportsman, marksman, and outdoorsman—embracing the skills, discipline, and self-reliance of his generation. He believed in hard work, personal responsibility, and providing for one’s own, yet his home and hands were always open to those in need.

Earl is survived by his wife Judy; his children Richard Lee (Alice), Theresa Ann, Earl David (Melissa), and Philip Shannon (Melissa); brother, James ‘Floyd’ Stogsdill; eleven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Willard L. Stogsdill and Edward E. Stogsdill; sister, Edith Mae; and first wife and mother of his children, Ruby Bell (Parsons) Stogsdill.

Other than the Lord, Earl’s family was the most important part of his life. For the last two and a half years, he lived with his eldest son Rick and daughter-in-law Alice, who lovingly cared for him and kept him safe during his final season.

Earl was legally blind in one eye from his youth, and in his later years lost nearly all of his remaining eyesight due to macular degeneration. Even so, he remained healthy until the end and, quite simply, died of old age. He often said, “If my legs had strength and if I could see, I could do everything I want to do.” Yet the thing he wanted most was to go to Heaven—to see his Lord and to be reunited with his beloved Ruby. He spoke of her often, dreamed of her, and longed to see her again.

Though death seemed slow in arriving, Earl waited—sometimes impatiently—with hope and assurance. On Thursday evening, January 29, near 8:30 p.m., he quietly exhaled and departed for a place of marvelous wonder. With vision perfected and faith made sight, he beheld his Savior in full glory, just as he had envisioned nearly 65 years earlier when he first realized his greatest need was not healing, but Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:31 — “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.”

We love you, Dad, and we will miss you deeply—but we have not lost you. We know exactly where you are.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, at Stillinger Family Funeral Home- New Palestine Chapel, 19 East Main Street, New Palestine, IN, with the service immediately following at 12:00 noon, officiated by Earl’s loving son, Pastor David Stogsdill. Burial will be in New Palestine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Righteous Oaks Baptist Church, 8356 State Road 109, Wilkinson, IN 46186 and/or Grace Bible Baptist Church, 116 East Union Street, Walbridge, OH 43465. If you would like to sign the online guest book or send condolences to the family, you may do so by visiting www.stillingerfamily.com