Elizabeth Stoller Stine

Elizabeth Stoller Stine, age 95, of New Philadelphia, passed away at home on Sunday, March 22, 2026, under the care of hospice. She welcomed this day to be reunited with her late husband, Floyd Gene Stine.

The only child of the late William Edwin and Jenny Myrtle (Souders) Stoller, Elizabeth was born on March 25, 1930, at her parents’ New Philadelphia home. She spent her childhood moving often so her father could find work as a civil engineer during “The Depression.” Elizabeth attended nine schools in Ohio, Georgia, and Florida by the time she completed junior high. Being highly intelligent, resilient, and determined, she became an avid reader, succeeded in school, and even skipped 8th Grade. Her father had been the 1917 football team captain and a proud 1918 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, so he insisted Elizabeth would attend NPHS. She and her mother moved back to New Philadelphia while her father relocated to Chicago for work. Elizabeth did graduate from NPHS in 1947, but sadly, her father perished in an engineering accident in Chicago in 1946 and never witnessed this event.

At NPHS, Elizabeth met a polite, well-dressed, handsome boy with a great sense of humor: Floyd! They dated their Senior year, but decided to attend different colleges. After two years apart, their love could not wait. Elizabeth transferred from The Ohio State University to join Floyd at Muskingum College. Knowing they were soulmates, the two college students eloped in Kentucky on September 7, 1949. (September 7th was her father’s birthday.) A year later, Elizabeth and Floyd were wed at New Philadelphia’s Evangelical and Reform Church. The young bride graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Muskingum College in 1952.

Elizabeth had hoped for a long-lasting marriage and a large family. Both of her wishes came true! She and Floyd were married for 63 years until his passing in 2013. Her Family includes four daughters, seven grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Her daughters are Dr. Lucy Stine, Lora Steele, Lisa (Alan) Kover, and Lynette (Michael) Zarra. Her grandchildren include: Thomas (Amanda) Steele, David (fiancée, Venus Ellison), Michael (Libby) Steele, Jenny (Rick) Falhaber, Bryan (Faith) Kover, Kristin (Andrew) Heath, and Kaitlyn (Eric) Fannin.

Family was everything to Elizabeth. She doted on all family members. She always put her family’s needs above her own. She was the first one up and the last one to bed to accomplish her “to-do” list and accommodate everyone. She made the Victorian house “a home.” She showed her love in many ways, especially by making home-cooked meals and delicious desserts. At Christmas, she made 12 kinds of cookies, peanut brittle, as well as fudge. She not only elaborately decorated the home at Christmas, but all holidays and birthdays. She also thoughtfully remembered her family and friends with cards and gifts for all occasions.

In addition to taking care of her family, Elizabeth taught and nurtured the children in her classrooms. She began her teaching career at York Elementary in the early 1950’s. While her four daughters were young, she then was a substitute teacher, tutor, and nursery school operator/teacher. In the late 1960’s the joined the Claymont School System as a first-grade teacher at Northside Elementary. For nearly two decades, she taught hundreds of students to read, write, and perform arithmetic skills, but more importantly, she tried to instill the qualities of being good human beings. Each year, her classroom reflected a creative theme depicted in her instructional materials and activities. She and Floyd both retired from the Claymont School System in 1987.

Elizabeth had little spare time while supporting her girls in their academic endeavors and extracurricular activities, but the family did enjoy cottage life, boating, and fishing at Tappan Lake during summer vacations. She always loved cooking, baking, and entertaining family and friends. With her children grown, she read thousands of “cozy mysteries”; spoiled her grandchildren; shopped for cards, presents, and home décor; as well as traveled to warm destinations like Florida and Hawaii. In her last few years, she thoroughly enjoyed car rides around Tuscarawas County.

Elizabeth was confirmed in the E&R Church as a teenager. After marriage, she joined the First Presbyterian Church in New Philadelphia. She and Floyd exemplified good morals and values throughout their lives.

In addition to her parents and husband, Elizabeth was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Grace Kover.

In keeping with her wishes, private services will be held in the East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia at a later date. The Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia is handling cremation care.

The family would like to express a thank you to the caregivers of Ohio’s Hospice.

*Lovingly written by Elizabeth's Family