Page 157 - United Brethren Preachers
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Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
STINESPRING: Charles W. Stinespring (b. July 27, 1852, Dayton, Va.; d. Feb. 22, 1919,
Harrisonburg, Va.) became a member of Va. Conf. and licensed to preach in 1876; ordained in
1880; and transferred to Pa. Conf. 1885. Rev. Stinespring served Shady Grove, 1876-77;
Westernport, 1877-79; Hagerstown, 1879-80; Frederick Mission Station, 1880-82; and
Churchville, 1882-84. Whitesel’s Church was rebuilt after a great revival, the first meeting being
led by C. W. Stinespring, about 1874 at cost of $500; weatherboarded, new windows, change of
pulpit and benches. In Pa. Conf. he served Baltimore Woodberry Mission, 1884-87; Boonsboro
(Md. Conf.), 1890-91; and Chewsville (Md. Conf.), 1891-93. As a member of Md. Conf. he
served Walkersville, 1893-95; and Frederick, 1895-1904. Back in Pa. Conf. he served Baltimore
Franklin Street, 1904-06; field secretary, Quincy Orphanage and Home, 1906-10; field
representative, U.B. Publishing House, 1910-12; and field secretary, Quincy Orphanage and Home, 1912-16.
[Lycoming 2013] The picture is from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 306], taken in 1888. He was among a “small band
of individuals who met in Fall 1892 to formally organize a society for Memorial U.B. Church in Washington,
D.C. [“Memorial U.B. Church and Sunday School, 1928, Historical Sketch”]. The 1898-1899 and 1899-1900
Lebanon Valley College Catalogs have him living in Frederick, Md., as does the 1901 edition of Bizarre.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 145; see also pp. 127, 130, 202, 274-285, 288, 290, 293, 296, 298, 300, 302-303,
305] and [Glovier 1965, pp. 89, 176]
STOMBACH: J. S. Stombach served Big Pool, 1924-25; and Franklin, 1928-29.
STOVER: George Washington Stover was born
near Mount Pisgah Church in Augusta County,
Va., on June 5, 1861, the son of Joshua H. and
Frances M. Stover. In 1881 he married Miss Emma
Fuller. God blessed their home with three children:
Mrs. Sadie Hamrick and Miss Hattie Stover of
Winchester, Virginia; and Paul Stover of Bethlehem,
Pa.; and one granddaughter, Mrs. Garnet Owen of
California. He studied in Roller’s Academy, Augusta
County, Va., attended lectures at the University of
Virginia, and applied himself through correspondence courses in his preparation for the ministry. Brother
Stover joined Va. Conf. in 1894 and was ordained there in 1896. That spring he was assigned his first charge
in Prince William County, Va., where he served 2 years. His second charge was the Jones Spring charge in
West Virginia, where he served 7 years. In 1903 he was assigned to the Staunton Church and served there
9 years. Mr. Stover studied medicine and passed an examination in 1893. During that time he led the
Staunton congregation in building the present church. In the fall of 1912 he came to Winchester as pastor,
where he remained until his retirement in 1937. He was host to the Conference session that voted his
retirement. The sanctuary in which we are assembled is a monument to his faithful leadership and fruitful
ministry of 25 years. During this time, the church was built at a cost of $65,300 and paid for. It was his wish
that he could live to see this accomplished. The Lord granted him this wish. The debt was paid during the
year of 1937, the interior redecorated, and he retired in September, moving to his home at 351 National
Avenue, where he lived until his death. Bro. Stover was honored by his conference in being elected delegate
to a number of General Conferences and serving on different committees and boards. After retirement he
remained faithful to the Church and was a regular attendant in the worship. His preaching was inspirational
and drew a large number of people close to him and to God. His going was rather sudden, but as he would
have it. While sitting in his usual place in his home reading the evening paper, without any notice, the
summons from on high came. His spirit quietly slipped out to be with God and those who had gone before.
Preparation for life ended, living began. Bro G. W. Stover died at his home in Winchester, Va., Jan. 10, 1945,
aged 83 years, 7 months, and 5 days. After a brief funeral service which he had outlined, his body was taken
to Staunton, Va., where interment was in the Thorn Rose Cemetery beside his wife, who preceded him in
death in May 1924. The funeral service was conducted by his pastor, assisted by Dr. J. Paul Gruver,
Conference Superintendent, and Revs. J. R. Collis and Carl W. Hiser. Va. Conf. ministers of the Winchester,
Martinsburg, and Berkeley Springs districts were in attendance at the funeral, and those of Harrisonburg and
Staunton districts were present at the cemetery. He served Winchester Church 1912-37, holding the record
as the longest-serving pastor there. During his pastorate at Staunton U.B. Church, 1903-1912, the old church
on Lewis street was sold, the Baptist church was purchased and the structure removed, and the new church
was erected on same foundation, at a cost of $20,185.54. Staunton Church witnessed much sacrifice and
heroism upon the part of the few consecrated members of that day, not only in debt paying but also
increasing the pastor’s support nearly 100% and the Benevolent Budget 50%. Only $5,000.00 of the debt
remained on the church when Rev. Stover was transferred to Winchester. Rev. Stover received 243 members
during his pastorate at Staunton U.B. Church. [40th Anniversary Celebration of St. Pauls, 1928, p. 11] His
memoir, as well as Emma’s, is provided in Section II.A (below). The left-most picture is from [U.B. Yearbook
1903, p. 34]. The two right-hand pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 77, 127], the third from the left taken
Biographical Sketches 145
STINESPRING: Charles W. Stinespring (b. July 27, 1852, Dayton, Va.; d. Feb. 22, 1919,
Harrisonburg, Va.) became a member of Va. Conf. and licensed to preach in 1876; ordained in
1880; and transferred to Pa. Conf. 1885. Rev. Stinespring served Shady Grove, 1876-77;
Westernport, 1877-79; Hagerstown, 1879-80; Frederick Mission Station, 1880-82; and
Churchville, 1882-84. Whitesel’s Church was rebuilt after a great revival, the first meeting being
led by C. W. Stinespring, about 1874 at cost of $500; weatherboarded, new windows, change of
pulpit and benches. In Pa. Conf. he served Baltimore Woodberry Mission, 1884-87; Boonsboro
(Md. Conf.), 1890-91; and Chewsville (Md. Conf.), 1891-93. As a member of Md. Conf. he
served Walkersville, 1893-95; and Frederick, 1895-1904. Back in Pa. Conf. he served Baltimore
Franklin Street, 1904-06; field secretary, Quincy Orphanage and Home, 1906-10; field
representative, U.B. Publishing House, 1910-12; and field secretary, Quincy Orphanage and Home, 1912-16.
[Lycoming 2013] The picture is from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 306], taken in 1888. He was among a “small band
of individuals who met in Fall 1892 to formally organize a society for Memorial U.B. Church in Washington,
D.C. [“Memorial U.B. Church and Sunday School, 1928, Historical Sketch”]. The 1898-1899 and 1899-1900
Lebanon Valley College Catalogs have him living in Frederick, Md., as does the 1901 edition of Bizarre.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 145; see also pp. 127, 130, 202, 274-285, 288, 290, 293, 296, 298, 300, 302-303,
305] and [Glovier 1965, pp. 89, 176]
STOMBACH: J. S. Stombach served Big Pool, 1924-25; and Franklin, 1928-29.
STOVER: George Washington Stover was born
near Mount Pisgah Church in Augusta County,
Va., on June 5, 1861, the son of Joshua H. and
Frances M. Stover. In 1881 he married Miss Emma
Fuller. God blessed their home with three children:
Mrs. Sadie Hamrick and Miss Hattie Stover of
Winchester, Virginia; and Paul Stover of Bethlehem,
Pa.; and one granddaughter, Mrs. Garnet Owen of
California. He studied in Roller’s Academy, Augusta
County, Va., attended lectures at the University of
Virginia, and applied himself through correspondence courses in his preparation for the ministry. Brother
Stover joined Va. Conf. in 1894 and was ordained there in 1896. That spring he was assigned his first charge
in Prince William County, Va., where he served 2 years. His second charge was the Jones Spring charge in
West Virginia, where he served 7 years. In 1903 he was assigned to the Staunton Church and served there
9 years. Mr. Stover studied medicine and passed an examination in 1893. During that time he led the
Staunton congregation in building the present church. In the fall of 1912 he came to Winchester as pastor,
where he remained until his retirement in 1937. He was host to the Conference session that voted his
retirement. The sanctuary in which we are assembled is a monument to his faithful leadership and fruitful
ministry of 25 years. During this time, the church was built at a cost of $65,300 and paid for. It was his wish
that he could live to see this accomplished. The Lord granted him this wish. The debt was paid during the
year of 1937, the interior redecorated, and he retired in September, moving to his home at 351 National
Avenue, where he lived until his death. Bro. Stover was honored by his conference in being elected delegate
to a number of General Conferences and serving on different committees and boards. After retirement he
remained faithful to the Church and was a regular attendant in the worship. His preaching was inspirational
and drew a large number of people close to him and to God. His going was rather sudden, but as he would
have it. While sitting in his usual place in his home reading the evening paper, without any notice, the
summons from on high came. His spirit quietly slipped out to be with God and those who had gone before.
Preparation for life ended, living began. Bro G. W. Stover died at his home in Winchester, Va., Jan. 10, 1945,
aged 83 years, 7 months, and 5 days. After a brief funeral service which he had outlined, his body was taken
to Staunton, Va., where interment was in the Thorn Rose Cemetery beside his wife, who preceded him in
death in May 1924. The funeral service was conducted by his pastor, assisted by Dr. J. Paul Gruver,
Conference Superintendent, and Revs. J. R. Collis and Carl W. Hiser. Va. Conf. ministers of the Winchester,
Martinsburg, and Berkeley Springs districts were in attendance at the funeral, and those of Harrisonburg and
Staunton districts were present at the cemetery. He served Winchester Church 1912-37, holding the record
as the longest-serving pastor there. During his pastorate at Staunton U.B. Church, 1903-1912, the old church
on Lewis street was sold, the Baptist church was purchased and the structure removed, and the new church
was erected on same foundation, at a cost of $20,185.54. Staunton Church witnessed much sacrifice and
heroism upon the part of the few consecrated members of that day, not only in debt paying but also
increasing the pastor’s support nearly 100% and the Benevolent Budget 50%. Only $5,000.00 of the debt
remained on the church when Rev. Stover was transferred to Winchester. Rev. Stover received 243 members
during his pastorate at Staunton U.B. Church. [40th Anniversary Celebration of St. Pauls, 1928, p. 11] His
memoir, as well as Emma’s, is provided in Section II.A (below). The left-most picture is from [U.B. Yearbook
1903, p. 34]. The two right-hand pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 77, 127], the third from the left taken
Biographical Sketches 145
