Obituary of Byron Stoddard

Byron F. Stoddard Went home to be with the Lord Tuesday night, May 22st, 2013, at the age of 85. Born in Endicott, but lived most of his life in Vestal, NY. Most recently at St Louise Nursing home on Upper Front Street, Binghamton, NY. Byron (Barney) grew up in Endicott, but at a young age the adventure of the west was calling him and he went out west to pursue his dreams of horses and cattle. Eventually he came back and found his way to a watering hole in Vestal where he met his lifelong bride Verna (McCulley). They later married and produced 5 children beginning with Cindy, Bonnie, Linda, Julie Rae, and finally a boy, Stephen. Byron served the Lord in many churches officially and unofficially in the Marketplace. A farmer at heart, he found a way to run his own small farm while learning his trade at Baxter Farm learning butchering and eventually became a Meat Cutter, beginning at the Public Market and through a series of jobs ended up being the Meat Manager at Great American Markets (Victory Mkts). He loved his work and even when off work did a lot of private butchering and meat cutting. Having his own farm up on Anderson for many years afforded him the opportunity to own many John Deere Tractors, his most prized possessions. Not really into newer ones, he loved restoring them and using them every day. As time went by he moved down into the suburbs on Glenwood with his tractors and while not having as much of chance to use his Johnny's, he began collecting every memorabilia of JD artifacts. He loved having his children and grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren around, and provided a swimming pool for them for years to come and enjoy, that along with some homemade Spiedies that were his specialty. He is survived by his brother, Howard (Florence) Stoddard of Vestal, NY; his daughter, Cindy (Gerry) Couch, of Newtown, PA, and children Eric (Amy) Couch, Manville, NJ, Gretchen Couch, Ocala, FL; daughter, Bonnie (Robby) Ashley, Willow Springs, NC and children Rachel Delafield, Garner, NC, Carl S. Greenley, Wylie, TX, Suzanne Greenley, Aniger, NC; daughter, Linda Kuehling, Hagerstown, MD and children Michael Kuehling, Port Clinton, OH, Katie (Derek) Hewitt, Hagerstown, MD; daughter, Julie Rae Waples, Vestal, NY and children Ashley Roberts, Victoria Waples, Vestal, NY, Erika Waples, Tracy Creek, NY, Michael Waples, Vestal, NY, Laweren Waples, Vestal, NY; son, Stephen (Beth) Stoddard, Endicott, NY and child Danielle Maushardp, San Diego, CA; plus a total of 13 great-grandchildren. Visiting hours will be at Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home on Main Street in Vestal on Friday, May 24th, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. for family and friends. The funeral service will be the following Saturday morning, May 25th, at 10 a.m., at Community Bible Church at 602 Chenango Street, Binghamton, NY. "A life well lived!"