Obituaries
Werner James John Stolp, 74
April 24, 2020
“John” Stolp passed away April 24 at his home in Lititz. He was the devoted husband of Elaine Diffenderfer Stolp with whom he shared 40 years and devoted father of Matthew Stolp (San Jose, CA), James Stolp (San Jose, CA), Brandon Stolp and wife Kellye McKee (Santa Rosa, CA) and Zachary Stolp (Baltimore, MD). He is also survived by sisters Kathy Hungerford of Arizona and Kelly McCarley of Oklahoma.
John was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, son of the late Werner Stolp and Evelyn (Cartlidge) Stolp. He emigrated to the U.S. as an infant aboard the Queen Mary and grew up in southern Arizona. John graduated from Bisbee High School (Arizona) in 1964 and the US Military Academy, West Point, NY in 1968. As a captain in the US Army, he served as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War and in Schweinfurt, Germany.
Following his discharge from the Army, John returned to Arizona where he earned an MBA degree from Arizona State University. Beginning in the late 1970s, he was employed in sales with the Rogers Corporation, a specialty engineered material company headquartered in Rogers, CT. John and Elaine were married in Tempe, Arizona and lived in northern California for 37 years. Upon John’s retirement in 2015, they relocated to Lititz.
John was an active member of the Lititz Moravian Congregation where he was a faithful volunteer with the Hub of Hope food pantry/community meals in Reading. He also enjoyed singing in the Lititz Moravian choir. During his time in Lititz, John enjoyed getting to know the local area, playing guitar, and summer evenings on the back porch with cherished friends and neighbors. He and Elaine enjoyed travel, restoring their home built in 1869 and hosting exchange students. John’s life will be forever cherished by his family, friends and all who knew him. He will be remembered fondly for his ready smile, his kindness, and his unwavering optimism.
The family wishes to thank the “Orange Team” and infusion nurses at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute for their compassionate care during John’s illness. They would also like to thank the many anonymous people who donated blood that sustained him over the past 6 months.
Due to current public health guidelines, memorial services will be announced at a future time. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages blood donations and/or contributions in John’s memory to the charity of one’s choice.
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Condolences to the Family
January 23, 2021
So sorry for your loss. John was a classmate of mine in Bisbee. Class if ’64. Sincere condolences to all your family and friends.
Frances Peru Lopéz
October 12, 2020
Dear Elaine,
I just learned of John’s passing and am deeply sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of working with John at Rogers for many years. His dedication to you and the boys, as evidenced by his soccer dad stories, showed him to be a true family man. I hope the great memories you hold will ease your grief.
Marc Cotnoir
October 12, 2020
Elaine;
My heartfelt condolences on your loss. I had the pleasure of working with John for nearly 20 years, and can honestly say that John was a person many of us aspired to be. He was a wonderful, caring man who touched so many people during his career at Rogers – and I’m sure everywhere he went.
Steve Ubelhoer
October 12, 2020
Dear Emaine and family,
Sorry to hear about your loss. It has taken some time for the news to cross the ocean but I worked with John duing the last 12 years at Rogers and I fondly recall traveling together on multiple ocassions in the Bay area. John left a lasting impression on me as a person and as a colleague. He will be deeply missed. Strenght and and peace to all of you.
Dirk Maeyens
October 10, 2020
Elaine so sorry to hear about John. My Condolences to you and your family. Jeff and Alice Gibson Gilbert Arizona
October 10, 2020
Dear John,
I really missed you the last years! You were a true inspirational warm guy!
My warmest condolences to family and friends, take god care.
Love from Ghent,Belgium
July 09, 2020
ORWAC 70-28 has lost another good Pilot. We had some great times at Ft Wolters and Ft Rucker.See ya at the lift off on the other side.
Bert Sousa
May 11, 2020
Prayers Elaine to you and your family. I have fond memories of John from Sunday School he will be missed. Terri
May 07, 2020
Dear Elaine and Family,
I too am very sorry for your loss. Although I hadn’t seen John for many years, he was often on my mind and warmly remembered. We were close during our time at West Point and he was always a solid and dependable friend. A role model really, with his quiet and unassuming resolve to drive on to accomplish whatever mission was thrown at him. We had several adventurous trips together that I and others will never forget. And, I can confidently say that none of us in the H-1/A-3 family will ever forget John. As Gus said, “be thou at peace” – we will seen you again soon John!
Michael Mann
May 04, 2020
I was One of John’s roomates during beast barracks at West Point. I lost track of him after I left the academy. I remember how quiet he was. But always thinking. So ironic that he ended up living so close by. Wish I had known. Small world. my deepest sympathies on your loss.
Mike Bowman
May 04, 2020
Condolences for your loss. John and I were classmates in the same company at West Point. We all enjoyed his intelligence, steady confidence and quiet sense of humor.
Proud to have known him.
“And when our work is done, Our course on earth is run, May it be said, ‘Well done,’ Be thou at peace.”
West Point Alma Mater
Gus Lee
May 04, 2020
Elaine and Family,
I am so sorry to hear about John’s passing. He was very kind and calm. In my interactions with John he never let any bad news phase him. He always had a “can-do” attitude. My family will be praying for yours. It was an honor and privilege to have met him, interacted with him, and cared for him! May God continue to bless your family and shower you with peace and hope.
Dawson High
May 01, 2020
Elaine and Family, I have so many great memories of John and your family while Matt and I were at Bellarmine – you and John always showed me unconditional love, and my/our memories created at your Foxworthy home will always be cherished. My thoughts and prayers are with you all – I am grateful for you and John, for the perpetual happiness you and your family showed me. Some of the best years of my youth were shared with you all. John will be missed, he was a role model husband, father and friend. I know his spirit lives on in all of us. God Bless!
Frankie Harms
April 30, 2020
Dear Elaine, so sorry for your loss. We regret not getting to know John, but nice to read of your wonderful life together. Until we meet in Lititz again, wishing you Strength and Peace. Karin & Rob Lucier
April 29, 2020
So sorry about John, May he rest peacefully in God’s arms. His kindness and smiles will be missed at the Reading Moravian dinners. Marlene Brady
April 29, 2020
We will miss John very much. We used to call him Grandpa John because John and my son became very close during Sunday school class. He was so good with my son. I don’t know who got more enjoyment out of it. When he wasn’t in class there seemed to be a whole in the class. John will be missed dearly. God needed another angel and I’m glad I got to know John! My thoughts and prayers are with John’s whole family!
Rebecca Hoover
April 29, 2020
ELaine, having seen you both last October in Arizona I wanted you to know the impact John had on my life in the early years. His solid mentoring and friendship through high school and college influenced me, an insecure introvert, to develop the confidence I needed to succeed in college and beyond. I am forever grateful for John’s part in my early life. God bless you and your family.
Dan Michael Robertson
April 28, 2020
Enjoyed getting to know John. Working with him on the Lititz Projects. Stripping wallpaper. Working with him at Reading for the Hub of Hope and serving the community meal. He will be missed.
Tom and Brenda Watson
April 28, 2020
I did not know John personally, but knowing his son, Brandon, is testament to what a wonderful father he was. My heart is heavy for you all and I pray the memories you hold in your hearts can help ease your grief.
Sandy Bowler
April 28, 2020
What an interesting and beautiful life. He was a good and caring man. A great cook also. So sorry for the loss of John.
Lana
