Gwendoline “Gwen” Louie (Barke) Stotler
Gwendoline “Gwen” Louie (Barke) Stotler, 102, died on Sunday, November 28, 2021 surrounded by loving family.
Gwen was born in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, UK on February 12, 1919—the eldest of three daughters. She is preceded in death by parents, George and Mabel Barke, sister, Babe Thompson, husband, Harold Stotler, and nephew, Jimmy Thompson.
As a young woman during WWII, Gwen assumed jobs at a gas company, an air-raid operation center, and an airplane parts factory. Amidst the war, she fell in love and married Harold Stotler, an American serviceman, in 1946. The next year, after the birth of their first child, they moved to America. They had two more children before settling into a house on a Christmas tree farm in Coshocton, Ohio. Their last child was born in 1961, and after raising their beautiful family, she and Harold retired to Bonita Beach, Florida for many years.
Over the span of her adult years, Gwen found great success in her personal seamstress and upholstery business. She assisted as an interior decorator and flower arranger as well. Amongst her community, she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and participated in Garden and Flower Club and Red Hats Society. She also greatly treasured trips to the family cabin in Parry Sound, Canada.
After Harold’s death in 2014, through faith and family, Gwen continued to find joy. She had a resilient appreciation for the little beauties of everyday life—greeting the birds outside her window each morning like passing friends. She was well known for her unshakable kindness, her love for cats and all things sweet, and her dignified arts and crafts skills, of course.
She will be greatly missed by her friends and family, but her legacy of compassion, hard work, and endless love will live on in the hearts of every person she has known.
Gwen is survived by her sister, Hazel Oliver, and her four children, Chris (Marsha) Stotler, Steve (Sharlee) Stotler, Cheri (Mark) McCullough, and Jackie (Matt) Steele.
She was loved dearly by her grandchildren, Teresa, Tammy, Rochelle, Kerrie, Kevin, Alayna, Colin, Elise, Cory, Robyn, Chad, and Scott, and her great-grandchildren Robyn, Zack, Lexi, Carissa, Nathan, Aidan, Keira, Miley, and Sayge, as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and special friends.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm with Pastor Larry Bobbitt officiating. Burial will follow in Canal Lewisville Cemetery.
For those that wish, memorial donations may be made in Gwen’s name to the Coshocton Public Library, 655 Main Street, Coshocton, Ohio 43812.
An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawson-paisleyfh.com.
Category: Obituaries
