BELLEVILLE, NY — The funeral for Clark W. “Bill” Stoodley, Sr., 80, of Belleville, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019, at the Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville. Spring burial will be in the family plot at Woodside Cemetery, Belleville. Calling hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the funeral home.
Bill passed away early Sunday morning, March 3, at the Samaritan Medical Center with his wife and children at his bedside.
He is survived by his wife, Jane A., Belleville; his children Deborah (Bill) Griffith, Henderson Harbor, C. William “Billy” (Teresa) Stoodley, Sackets Harbor, Darlene (Gordon) MacIlvennie, Ellensburg, WA, Christopher (Terri) Stoodley, Wiamauma, FL, Denise (Mike MacMillan) Stoodley, Pillar Point; 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren plus 2 to be born in the Spring of 2019; 2 sisters Dawn (Bob) Dick, Henderson Harbor, Velma (John) Cobb, Adams; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother-in-law, John W. Cobb, April 13, 2011.
He was born May 17, 1938 in Watertown, NY to Ross and Flora Carpenter Stoodley. He was a 1955 graduate of Union Academy Belleville. He attended Canton ATI for one year until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1956. He was honorably discharged in 1958 and entered the Simmons School of Embalming, Syracuse, NY in fall 1958.
Following graduation, he served his one year apprenticeship with the Briggs Bros. Funeral Home in Homer, NY. He then returned to Belleville in 1961 to work with his father Ross in the operation of Carpenter-Stoodley Funeral Home. For the next 39 years, he served as director, manager, and president of the funeral home until the merger with Reed and Benoit Funeral Home, Watertown, which is owned by his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Teresa. He continued to work in the family business during his retirement until his passing.
He married Jane Marie Aureli on June 7, 1956, St. Cecelia’s Church, Adams, NY.
Bill drove school bus for Belleville Central School and Belleville-Henderson Central School for a combined 32 years. He served as Town Clerk for the Town of Ellisburg for nine years. He was a member and former treasurer of the Belleville Volunteer Fire Department, as well as secretary-treasurer of the Woodside Cemetery Association. He was also a former member and past master of the Rising Light Lodge F&AM Belleville.
He was an avid bowler and a member of the 700 Club. He enjoyed golfing with his friends, sons and sons-in-law.
Bill and Jane spent winters in Myrtle Beach for over 20 years. He enjoyed traveling and yard work.
Bill devoted his working life to caring for the families of his community during their times of loss and grief. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s name to the UAB Endowment Fund, c/o Marisa Riordan, PO Box 129; Belleville Volunteer Fire Dept., PO Box 141; or Woodside Cemetery Association, PO Box 105, all in Belleville, NY 13611.
Condolences may be made at www.carpenterstoodley.com.
