You are here

Stanley Naylor was active in several Bluffton organizations

Stanley F. Naylor, 83, of Bluffton died at 7:45 p.m., Nov. 8, 2015, at Mennonite Memorial Home. 

He was born May 29, 1932, in Goshen, Ind., to Wilbur J. and Deltha (Metzler) Naylor. The family moved to Nappanee, Ind., where he grew up and graduated from high school in the class of 1950. 

He graduated from Bluffton College (University) in 1954 with a business degree and on Sept. 25 of that same year he married Ruth E. (Bundy) Naylor. They spent the next two years in alternative service at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

For 10 years they lived in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where Stan worked as General Office Services Manager at Mutual Security Life Insurance Company and was instrumental in helping to plant the Maplewood Mennonite Church, which included serving as Co-Chair of the Building Committee.

In 1968 Stan was invited to serve as Financial Aids Manager at Bluffton College. He later worked at Triplett Corporation as Advertising Manager and Product Manager. In 1984 he opened his own business as a Personal Financial Planner with IDS (later Ameriprise) where he earned Master Financial Planner status.  Due to chronic illness he retired in 2002.

He is a member of the Bluffton University Athletic Hall of Fame with recognition in track and football and he enjoyed membership in the President’s Club.  He was a long-time member of the Bluffton Lions Club, having served as president as well as on many other committees.

He received the Melvin Jones award, and on the lighter side, he particularly enjoyed flipping pancakes at their annual fund raisers. He served on the board of Bluffton Child Development Center as Director of Finance, and was Past President of Bluffton Family Recreation Inc.  An active member of Bluffton’s First Mennonite Church, he served on various stewardship and finance committees.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, their daughter, Kimberly Anne McCullough of Bluffton, their son and daughter-in-law, Geoffrey Alan and Nancy Naylor of Ligonier, Ind., and seven grandchildren: Karen McCullough, Kristen (Ryan) McCullough Niekamp, Ben (Megan) McCullough, Sam (Julie) McCullough, Joshua (Pam) Naylor, Jacob (Ashley) Naylor, and Natasha (Corey) Naylor Kern plus 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Lew (Belle Duerksen) Naylor of Goshen, Ind., and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will begin on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. at  First Mennonite Church in Bluffton with Pastors Wanda Stopher and Steve Yoder officiating.  Interment will be later in the family plot at South Union Cemetery just north of Nappanee, Ind.

Calling hours are from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton and two hours prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stanley F. Naylor Scholarship at Bluffton University or to the Deacons’ Fund at First Mennonite Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com

Section: 

Stories Posted This Week