Robert Stough Sr.

Robert Lee Stough Sr., 95, of Boonsboro, MD on December 24, 2020 at Fahrney & Keedey Memorial Home in Boonsboro.

Born December 3, 1925, in York, PA, he was the son of the late Charles William and Pauline (Saylor) Stough.

Graduated from William Penn High School in York, Stough was drafted into the U.S. Navy Seabees in 1944 and fought in the battle of Okinawa from a troop and supply barge. He also served on Guam until he was honorably discharged.

Upon returning home, he was hired by the Maple Press Co. in York, where he advanced from apprentice printer to journeyman printer within six years. He retired from Bi Comp Printing Co. after 35 years’ service.

In 1948, he married Eleanor Straub Stough, of York, and they had three sons.

After the nuclear reactor disaster at Three Mile Island electric-generating plant near Middletown, PA, in 1979, the couple decided they wanted a future that wasn’t dependent on electricity. So, the Stough’s and their youngest son, Daniel, a designer, built a passive solar house facing the Allegheny mountain range in West Virginia. The house, completed in six years, was powered almost entirely by the sun.

Stough was a sports fan and he especially enjoyed attending his sons’ school and church basketball games. He also enjoyed reading, gardening and travelling in all 50 states and nine countries. As a family, the Stough’s hiked and camped in many state and national parks.

A former member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in York and Beaver Run Church of the Brethren in Burlington WV He was a current member of Hagerstown Church of the Brethren. At Beaver Run, he organized a Men’s Fellowship. Also, he was Secretary of the Burlington Ruritan Club for many years.

In addition to his wife, Stough is survived by a sister, Mary Young of Mt. Wolf, PA; two sons, Dr. Robert Lee Stough Jr. and wife Susan of Walla Walla, WA and Daniel Kevin Stough and wife Donna of Martinsburg, WV. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Joshua Stough, of Millstone WV, Maya Henderson of Bellingham, WA, Dr. Hannah Bujak of Chattanooga, TN, Ashely Graham of Lynchburg, VA, Brittney Valego of Myrtle Beach, SC, Kathryn Styer of Martinsburg, WV, April Bowers of Hedgesville, WV, Lauren King of Martinsburg, WV and Ryan Stough of Millford, DE; 16 great-grandchildren, including three boys and thirteen girls.

He was preceded in death by a son, David George Stough, who succumbed to ALS at the age of 50 in 2005; and by brothers, Charles Stough Jr. and Col. Richard Stough.

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial gifts may be made to Hagerstown Church of the Brethren or to On Earth Peace.