Obituary for John Russell Stufflet

Killed In Action March 11, 1945, In Italy

Geiger-Zimmerman Post No. 7013, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Hoch-Balthaser Post No. 480, American Legion, accorded full military rites November 21st to Sergeant John Stufflet who was reburied in Hope cemetery. He died in action March 11, 1945, in Italy.

He was inducted October 15, 1942,trained at Camp Croft, S.C., and was an instructor at Fort Benning, Ga., prior to which he was employed by the Proctor Construction Company of New Jersey. Johnny, as he was known through out the county, caught for the Topton’s entry in the Berks Rec. Baseball League in 1938-1939, and in 1941 took over the management of the Kutztown Club, which he led to the first half title, only to lose to Shillington in the play offs. He followed in the footsteps of his father who piloted Kutztown in 1928, at which time Johnny was the team’s batboy.

The military group was directed by Clarence J. Smith. Pall-bearers were Paul O'Neil, Grover Fink, Warren Hollenbach, Daniel Cronrath, Donald Bucks and Ralph Fink, and honorary pall-bearers included Ellsworth Bieber, Willard Serfass, Paul Zwoyer, F.L. DeMatteo, Cleon Levan, Paul Kercher, Ralph Oswald and George Schadler.

The Color Guard comprised John Bennicoff, Wayne Reidenauer, Robert Miller, Elmer Borell and Harold Knaus, and the Escort, Russell Oswald, R. Burton Bordner, Ivan Fisher and Arthur Moyer.

The Firing Squad, commanded by Austin Strohl, included Edgar Stern, Arlington Stettler, Harlan Wiltrout, Willis Levan, Richard Kurtz, William Sterner, George Hellwig and George Schaeffer.

Taps were sounded by William Kemp and Paul Daniel Wilkinson.

R. Burton Bordner presented the flag to Sergeant Stufflet's mother, Mrs. Charles Stufflet.

Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Mrs. Adam Fabian and Mrs. Lawrence Youse, of town Services were conducted at Schaeffer Funeral Home by the Rev. D. Horton Nace.