India A. Stoessel

India Beatrice Aldredge Stoessel, 91, died Thursday, January 21, 2010 after a long illness. Born March 14, 1918 in Salisbury, NC, she was the daughter of Bessie Victoria Kirk Aldredge and James Bunyon Aldredge. She grew up in Salisbury, attended local schools and while at Boyden High School, tapped danced on the stage with Billy Burke at the piano. She was in school plays and on the girls basketball team. According to Charlie Peacock, “Tiny” was one of the prettiest girls at the school. Mrs. Stoessel was a descendent of Michael Braun, George Fisher and Wendell Miller, all of Rowan County and could also trace her family back through several Revolutionary War soldiers. Her ancestors arrived in America about 1725 and followed the migration south to Rowan County. She met her future husband, Frank William Stoessel, a postal clerk in the Salisbury Post Office, in 1933 and they were married at the home of her uncle, Dr. Frank Kirk, on October 5, 1935. Mr. Stoessel was an officer of the Salisbury National Guard Combat Engineer Unit and was called up to active duty prior to World War II. Mrs. Stoessel and their new daughter, Carole Jean, soon followed him to posts in Columbia, South Carolina, and Fort Belvoir in Virginia. During this time, Mrs. Stoessel played the role of a typical, World War II Army officer’s wife. After the family returned to Salisbury and Mr. Stoessel resumed his career with the Post Office, Mrs. Stoessel was active in the community, serving as an officer in the Postal Auxiliary, teaching Bible school, serving as a school grade mother, participated in the PTA and other local and St. John’s Lutheran Church activities. A gracious hostess, Mrs. Stoessel entertained visiting concert pianists and many of the local musicians and college professors. Mrs. Stoessel followed her husband’s mother, Mrs. William (Leonie) Stoessel, into the family’s antique business. Upon his retirement from the Post Office, Frank and India opened their own antique shop with the blessing of his mother. The family continued in the antique business with the third generation when their daughter Carole Jean and her husband, Alex took up the cause. Mrs. Stoessel was a charter member of National Antique Doll Dealers Association (NADDA), founded by her daughter and Richard Wright; a member of the Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter of DAR, a charter member of the Residents of Olde Salisbury and was a charter member of Historic Salisbury Foundation. Her historic preservation efforts in Salisbury began in 1958 when she convinced her husband to purchase the Baker-Stoessel House, and 1848 Greek Revival house built by Maxwell Chambers for the First Presbyterian Church minister, Archibald Baker. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters and one brother, and her beloved husband on 56 years, Frank. Surviving are her only daughter, Dr. Carole Jean Stoessel Zvonar and her husband Alex, numerous cousins and nieces and nephews. A phenomenal fighter, Mrs. Stoessel was diagnosed with Acute Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at age 50. The disease had an 85% death rate at the time she was diagnosed, but she never gave up. She also fought breast cancer and heart disease valiantly. Baptist hospital was unaware of anyone living longer with Systemic Lupus. A private graveside service was held on Monday, January 25 at Rowan Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Department of Immunology, c/o Development and Alumni Affairs, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021. Her daughter would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Myron A. Goodman of Salisbury and to the following physicians at Wake Forest University School of Medicine: Dr. Emery C. Miller (deceased), Dr. Charles Emory McCall, Dr. Karl Patrick Ober, Dr. John H. Gilliam, Dr. J. Michael Sterchi, Dr. Madison Slusher, Dr. Richard G. Weaver, Dr. Robert Morehead, Dr. Robert Prichard, and Dr. Frederic Kahl. Her daughter, a physician herself, attributes India’s long life partly to the remarkable care and attention that she received from her physicians most especially Dr. Myron Goodman of Salisbury. Summersett Funeral Home served the Stoessel-Zvonar family. Online condolences may be made to www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

India A. Stoessel

March 14, 1918 - January 21, 2010