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Obituary for Gladys Irene "Cookie" Stallard
Gladys Irene “Cookie" Stallard of Scott Depot, formerly of Hugheston, West Virginia passed away on March 7, 2019 at the age of 92.
She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Victor Kent Stallard, Sr. and by three children: Sondra Stallard of Alexandria, Virginia; Karen Nowviskie and husband Frank of Scott Depot; and Victor “Chip” Stallard, Jr., of Scott Depot. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Bethany Nowviskie (Chandler Sansing) of Waynesboro, Virginia; Kent Nowviskie (Nicole Michaelis) of Charleston, WV; Lauren Keller (Wesley) of Lexington, Ky; Evan Pols of Charlottesville, Va; and Lorea Stallard (Kyle Parker) of Washington, DC. In addition, she is survived by five great-grandchildren: Victor, Eleanor, Nate, Juliet, and Mira; and by her sister, Nancy Boardman of Auburn, Washington.
Born in 1927 in Castlewood, Virginia, to Donna Eva Phillips Cook and James Arnold Cook, she was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Frances and Janet, and her brothers Paul and Jimmy. Cookie entered the nursing profession in her early 20’s and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton, Virginia. There, on a bus, she caught the eye of the handsome young soldier who would become her husband. She married Victor Stallard in 1948.
A few years later, they moved to Hugheston and Cookie worked as an LPN at Laird Memorial Hospital, later Montgomery General. In 1974, she became an RN by earning her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology at age 47, inspiring many others to go back to school. During her remaining years at the hospital, she rose to the most senior ranks and trained a number of nurses… and doctors.
Cookie’s nursing talents were not limited to the hospital. From the time she and Vick moved to Hugheston in the 1950’s, she helped countless families in the hollow, ensuring they had care at all hours. She was so well regarded that the boys who blocked the roads on Halloween would move their roadblocks when she was came home from evening shift and then put them back again! She was hard-working, generous, incredibly smart, and quick witted. She loved to read and was an avid baseball fan who could call a pitch before it was thrown. She told bawdy jokes that left her family in stitches.
Cookie did not see the ocean until she was an adult and she never tired of watching the waves during her many trips with family to Myrtle Beach and the Outer Banks. She loved thunderstorms and passed that fascination onto her children. With Vick, there were road trips to natural wonders in many states. She also traveled to London, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and Mexico with her adult children. It was especially important to Cookie that her family had opportunities she herself had lacked growing up. Both Cookie and Vick spoke with pride of the accomplishments of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In retirement, Vick and Cookie moved to Scott Depot to be near Karen and Frank. Over the next few years, she had a number of serious medical issues, but to our amazement always bounced back. In July, 2018 she entered the care of the Genesis Putnam Center. She soon became a favorite with the nurses, staff, and other patients. The family is grateful to Genesis and Putnam Hospice for her care.
Internment will take place in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery at Dunbar at 11AM on Monday, March 11, 2019 with Pastor Gary H. Tucker officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local food bank or to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Even when there was very little money to spare, Cookie always sent what she could to St. Jude’s, and her loving husband Vick continues this good work today. O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy can be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com
She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Victor Kent Stallard, Sr. and by three children: Sondra Stallard of Alexandria, Virginia; Karen Nowviskie and husband Frank of Scott Depot; and Victor “Chip” Stallard, Jr., of Scott Depot. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Bethany Nowviskie (Chandler Sansing) of Waynesboro, Virginia; Kent Nowviskie (Nicole Michaelis) of Charleston, WV; Lauren Keller (Wesley) of Lexington, Ky; Evan Pols of Charlottesville, Va; and Lorea Stallard (Kyle Parker) of Washington, DC. In addition, she is survived by five great-grandchildren: Victor, Eleanor, Nate, Juliet, and Mira; and by her sister, Nancy Boardman of Auburn, Washington.
Born in 1927 in Castlewood, Virginia, to Donna Eva Phillips Cook and James Arnold Cook, she was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Frances and Janet, and her brothers Paul and Jimmy. Cookie entered the nursing profession in her early 20’s and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton, Virginia. There, on a bus, she caught the eye of the handsome young soldier who would become her husband. She married Victor Stallard in 1948.
A few years later, they moved to Hugheston and Cookie worked as an LPN at Laird Memorial Hospital, later Montgomery General. In 1974, she became an RN by earning her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Institute of Technology at age 47, inspiring many others to go back to school. During her remaining years at the hospital, she rose to the most senior ranks and trained a number of nurses… and doctors.
Cookie’s nursing talents were not limited to the hospital. From the time she and Vick moved to Hugheston in the 1950’s, she helped countless families in the hollow, ensuring they had care at all hours. She was so well regarded that the boys who blocked the roads on Halloween would move their roadblocks when she was came home from evening shift and then put them back again! She was hard-working, generous, incredibly smart, and quick witted. She loved to read and was an avid baseball fan who could call a pitch before it was thrown. She told bawdy jokes that left her family in stitches.
Cookie did not see the ocean until she was an adult and she never tired of watching the waves during her many trips with family to Myrtle Beach and the Outer Banks. She loved thunderstorms and passed that fascination onto her children. With Vick, there were road trips to natural wonders in many states. She also traveled to London, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and Mexico with her adult children. It was especially important to Cookie that her family had opportunities she herself had lacked growing up. Both Cookie and Vick spoke with pride of the accomplishments of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In retirement, Vick and Cookie moved to Scott Depot to be near Karen and Frank. Over the next few years, she had a number of serious medical issues, but to our amazement always bounced back. In July, 2018 she entered the care of the Genesis Putnam Center. She soon became a favorite with the nurses, staff, and other patients. The family is grateful to Genesis and Putnam Hospice for her care.
Internment will take place in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery at Dunbar at 11AM on Monday, March 11, 2019 with Pastor Gary H. Tucker officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local food bank or to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Even when there was very little money to spare, Cookie always sent what she could to St. Jude’s, and her loving husband Vick continues this good work today. O’Dell Funeral Home, Montgomery is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy can be sent at www.odellfuneralhome.com