OBITUARY: DONALD L. STEMPLE Donald L. Stemple, 80, local businessman, statesman and farmer, a resident of Tacy Community, Rt. #2, Philippi, died at 4:31 P.M., on Monday, April 18, in the Ruby Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness. He was born October 2, 1930, at Tacy, a son of the late Judge Dayton R. Stemple and the late Ethel Virginia (Park) Stemple. On February 24, 1956, he married the former Grace L. McLean, who survives at Tacy. Also surviving are a daughter, Jo Ellen and husband Harry Kemmner, of Lost Creek; a son, Mark L. Stemple, of Tacy; three granddaughters, Casey Stemple, of Charleston, Christine Kemmner, a graduate student at Marshall University and Kaitlyn Kemmner, a student at Ohio State University; one brother, James P. Stemple, of Tacy; two step grandsons, Chad and Troy Smith; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dayton R. Stemple Jr. and John M. Stemple. Mr. Stemple attended the schools of Barbour County and graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and achieved the rank of Corporal. He was co-founder of Stemple’s Ready Mix Concrete Co. in 1960 and served as president of the company until he was succeeded by his son, Mark. He was past-president of the Builders Supply Association of West Virginia. Mr. Stemple and his wife owned and operated Daythel Farm. He was past president of the West Virginia Angus Association and served on the Board of Directors of the Barbour County Farm Bureau. In 1980, he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, where he served for ten years. In addition, he served on the State Republican Executive Committee. In 1997, Governor Cecil Underwood appointed Mr. Stemple as Alcohol and Beverage Control Commissioner for the state of West Virginia. He also served on the National ABCC Board of Directors. He was active in various civic organizations including, Belington Kiwanis Club, Barbour County Fair Board, the Broaddus Hospital Board and the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Stemple was a member of Cross Roads United Methodist Church, where he was chairman of the Board of Trustees. Family and friends will be received at the Stemple & Forman Funeral Home, 385 So. Main Street, Philippi, on Wednesday, April 20th from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. and on Thursday, April 21st from 2:00 until 9:00 P.M. Mr. Stemple will lie in state on Friday, April 22nd from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. at the Cross Roads United Methodist Church, where a Celebration of Life will be delivered by the Rev. Edward Hardman and the Rev. William Smith at 2:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the Cross Roads Cemetery. The family requests memorials be made in the form of donations in Mr. Stemple’s memory to the Cross Roads Cemetery Fund, c/o Rt. #2, Box 62, Philippi, W.Va. 26416. Stemple & Forman Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
