STALNAKER'S GATHER ONE-MORE-TIME

(09/27/2005)

Stalnaker Clan (front L-R) Glenna Fleming and Paul Stalnaker (rear L-R) James Stalnaker, Naomi Simms, Emma Deal and Bill Stalnaker Lots of folks return for the reunion head at ... ... the Upper West Fork Park at Chloe One of Calhoun's best attended family reunions was held Sunday at the Upper West Fork Park. The Stalnaker clan gathered for their annual event which has been held for about 85 years. The Calhoun origins are linked to William A. Stalnaker (1858-1948), who married Louverna Chenoweth (1865-1940) and moved to Triplett, Roane County, living there until 1900 when they purchased land at Rilla (later named Orma). "William had a store and post office at Orma, and was also a Justice of the Peace," according to James Stalnaker of Spencer. They had seven children, all buried at the Sycamore Baptist Church Cemetery on Mt. Zion Ridge. Nearly all of them lived on the waters of the West Fork. Absent this year was William "Sonny" Stalnaker, 80, oldest son of the late Fenton and Opal Downs Stalnaker, who returned to the county every year for the reunion. Stalnaker, a veteran of World War II, went to Juneau, Alaska about 40 years ago at age 40 and fell in love with the place. "Everything felt right for me," he said. The Stalnakers have been civic, community, business, church and political leaders in Calhoun, in addition to being teachers. Many of them have been staunch Baptists and Republicans, and beyond raising their families, have given much back to this community.

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