Joan M. Stonesifer Obituary
Joan M. Stonesifer, 82, went to heaven to meet Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on October 25, 2024, in Edgewood, Maryland. She was born May 25, 1942 in Washington, D.C., the loving daughter of the late Marvin Jefferson Ridgley and Marian Florence Regan. Due to her mother's illness, Joan grew up in the care of her grandmother, Lillian Ridgley (born Sarah Elizabeth Johnson) in Bowie, Maryland, while her dad worked in Baltimore. When Joan was 12 years old she moved to Baltimore to live with her dad, sister and brother near Garrison Boulevard.
She sang in Western High School's Glee Club and Choir. Joan was a synchronized swimmer, played basketball and enjoyed bowling. Western High School is the oldest public all-girls high school remaining in the United States and third oldest public high school in Maryland. She graduated from Western High School in 1960. Joan was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She was dedicated to her family and faith in Jesus Christ. Joan was the wife of the late Charles Clinton Stonesifer for 58 years, whom she married on February 2, 1962, at Lochearn Presbyterian Church in Lochearn, Maryland.
She met Charles at the Arlington Methodist church bowling league when they were both 16. They were blessed with three children: Nancy, Julie and Jonathan. She gave her life to Christ when she was a child. As a teenager she attended Sunday School and church at Temple Baptist Church in Windsor Mill, Maryland. Charles and Joan joined the First Presbyterian Church of Randallstown. Over the years she sang in a few church choirs, lastly at Rock City Church in Parkville, Maryland. She also occasionally attended Baltimore Christian Faith Center with daughter Nancy and family.
She loved to roller skate and started when she was a child. Charles and Joan roller skated at Carlin's Roller Rink in Baltimore City and Sportsman's Hall in Upperco, Baltimore County, Maryland which opened in May 1959 when they were 17. Additionally, they had fun at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park until June 1972 when Hurricane Agnes' caused the Gwynn Falls creek to flood the area causing severe damage and it closed about 1972-73. Joan took her children roller skating at Campfield Elementary School and Sportsman's Hall Roller Skating Center which is now Coppermine Sportsman's Hall.
The first Monday night of the month they went to the Christian Music Skate Night at Skateland North Point in Dundalk, Maryland. She enjoyed roller skating until age 75 while skating with her daughter Nancy and family. Joan enjoyed watching DVD series like the Waltons, Dr. Quinn, and JAG. Her favorite color was blue. Joan sewed clothes for her children. Her daughters remember the long sleeve blue dresses with ruffles made of quilted material designed for Christmas 1978, however, they wore the outfits again on Resurrection day April 12, 1979, but the outfits were way too hot being 60-degree weather that day.
She went with her daughters and grandchildren, Zack and Cameo, for a fun outing to the playground on top of Federal Hill in Baltimore. Joan helped with her grandchildren as needed. For example, she took her grandchildren to orthodontic appointments and drove Zack home from private school for over 5 years so he could graduate from Mount Airy Christian Academy. Joan has had many jobs over the years, and these are the ones that we know about. Her first job was during the summer of 1957 when she was 15. She worked at G. C. Murphy five and dime store at the Mondawmin Center which opened in October 1956.
Later, where her dad also worked, Joan worked in downtown Baltimore at Stewart's Department Store evenings after school. Additionally, she worked for department stores like The Hecht Company and Hutzler's in Downtown Baltimore and Woodlawn. After marriage she worked as a bank teller in the Colonial Village Shopping Center in Pikesville, Maryland, and a bookkeeper. Joan was a great homemaker. She learned how to use a pressure cooker and crockpot to make great meals. Most of her career was working 16 years in Medical Records at Clinical Associates in Towson, Maryland.
Joan ran their mail room for 5 sites before she retired in 2007. All enjoyed the family get togethers at the house in Brighton and her children's houses for family birthdays and holidays. Joan will be dearly missed by all those who loved her. Survivors include her sister Shirley Jean Kelly Bowers (nee Ridgley) of Corona, CA, sister-in-law Christine J. Ridgley of Cypress, CA; three children: daughter Nancy Chard (Michael) of Eldersburg, MD, their children Zachary Orndorff of Greenbelt, MD, Michelle Vargo (Matthew) of Glen Burnie, MD, and Sarah Chard, Warner Robins, GA; daughter Julie Reckard (Edward L., III) of Aspers, PA, and their children, Tabatha Coleman (Shawn) of Centreville, MD, Cameo (Levi), Edward L., IV, and Abigail Reckard of Aspers, PA; son Jonathan C. Stonesifer and his wife Laura of Edgewood, Maryland, and their children, Bonnie Marie Hill (and her daughter Lilliana Green Hill), Trinity, Harmony, and Kayleigh Stonesifer, great-grandchildren: Rin, Connor, Jamie, Eloise, Greta, and Beau; nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 58 years Charles C. Stonesifer, who died on July 24, 2020, brother Gary L. Ridgley, nephew Joseph J. Ridgley, niece, Kathleen L. Ridgley, grandson Abraham M. Chard, and great-granddaughter Flora Coleman. Viewing will be on Saturday, November 2 from 2 to 4pm. The Celebration of Life service will be held on November 2 at 7pm at Jeffrey N. Zumbrun Funeral Home, 6028 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, Maryland. Family will receive friends one-hour from 6-7 pm prior to the service.
Interment private at Druid Ridge Cemetery. Service will be livestreamed and recorded. Flowers are welcome or contributions in her memory may be sent to Baltimore Christian Faith Center, 10240 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133 to be used for the building fund. Or online: http://baltimorechristian.aware3.net.
