Marjorie K Stamper

Marjorie Kathleen (Pierce) Stamper, 93, passed away at Henry County Hospital on Tuesday evening, February 8, 2011. Born on June 1, 1917, in an old brick family home adjacent to the family farm on Brown Road near Mooreland, Marjorie was a loving mother to her children, Cynthia Wiley and husband Jan of Greenfield, Tabor Stamper III and wife Susan of Nashville, TN, and Becky Buggle Norris, of Chapel Hill, NC. She was a 1935 graduate of New Castle High School, and went on to earn a degree in Home Ec from Purdue University and a Masters in Education from Ball State University. She was a devoted teacher for many years in Mt. Summit and continuing at Weir and Westwood Schools in New Castle. Prior to her teaching career, she was a telephone operator at Indiana Bell and a member of Ma Bell’s.

Marjorie married James T. Stamper Jr. in San Francisco prior to his deployment overseas during WWII. After the war, they resided in New Castle for the rest of their lives. She is survived by her children, her sister-in-law, Louise Herder and family, and her grandchildren, Troy Buggle of Asheville, NC; Brian Stamper and wife Janet of Middletown, MD, Brad Stamper and wife Tina of Madison, WI, Trent Jones of Kansas City, MO, and Taylor Norris of Chapel Hill, NC. She so enjoyed visits from her great grandchildren, Natalie, Clara, Kate and William at her home at The Woodlands in New Castle. She is also survived by her nephew, Bill Spencer-Pierce and wife Jane, and their sons, David and Luke; and cousin, John Koons of Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Elsie Pierce, James T. Stamper Jr., her brother, Fred W. Pierce and his wife, Nellie, her niece, Claudia Scott, and her cousin, Myra Jane Hoover.

Marjorie loved New Castle, and was an active community member; she was awarded Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce; served on the boards of Mental Health Association, Westminster Community Center, First Christian Church, Friends of the Library; was a member of The First Nighters, Art Center and Art Association of Henry County, Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority, Phi Mu Sorority at Purdue, Raintree Circle Home Ec Club, ABWA, ISTA, NEA, Retired Teachers Association, Foster Grandparents, and established the Thumbody Self-Esteem Program in the surrounding schools. She also served many years as a 4-H and Scout Leader. Marjorie loved sports, especially Trojan basketball, and served as a volunteer at The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. She also was an avid fan of the IU, Purdue, Pacers and Colts teams.

For the past several years, Marjorie has resided at The Woodlands at Forest Ridge, and the family thanks the entire staff for her excellent care, especially her primary care-giver, Tonia Wills. We also thank her wonderful doctor, Dr. Joy Stone.

Hinsey-Brown is handling her funeral arrangements. The service will be held as follows:
Visitation at The First Christian Church on Bundy Avenue this Sunday, February 13, from 2:00 to 4:00 followed by the funeral at 4:00 p.m. A private burial will be Monday morning in South Mound Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Castle Public Library or Westminster Community Center.