Stanley Skene England

RUTLAND - Stanley Skene England, 90, a child of God and active churchman, of Rutland, died peacefully while with friends on Christmas Eve. He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1918, son of Arthur and Annie (Mowat) England. He leaves his wife of 16 years, Janice (Beebe) England of Rutland and a sister, Frances (England) Schloff of Oak Park, MI; nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He also leaves two step-children and their families; John, Alyssa and Delaney Hansen of Rutland and Julie Hansen-Conn, Brian and Henry David Conn of Fort Collins, CO. His first wife of 48 years, Winifred (Rankin) England, died in 1989, and a daughter, Susan Hamilton England, died in 1995.

Mr. England was sworn into the United States Infantry on June 6, 1944, D-Day. He was assigned in Italy to the 10th Mountain Division, 85th Regiment, "K" company. He served as a PFC with the Division in the Apennines Mountains and Po Valley campaigns, for which he was awarded 2 bronze battle stars, along with the Combat Infantry Badge.

He attended the public schools in Detroit, graduating from Walsh Institute in 1940 in accounting. Following the war, he graduated with honors in 1948 from Wayne State University Detroit, where he enjoyed being a varsity debater. He subsequently studied for several years at Yale Divinity School, following which he resumed his career in industry.

Mr. England became a personnel generalist and labor relations specialist with several companies: U. S. Rubber Company in Naugatuck CT, Federal Paper Board Company of Bogota, NJ, Table Talk Inc. of Worcester, and Union-Butterfield Division, Litton Industries in Athol, retiring in 1984.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Worcester, for 43 years, where he sang in the choir from 1965 through 1998, notably under the late LeRoy K. Hanson, Minister of Music. He participated in a variety of theater productions at Wesley and reveled in the lead role of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S.Pinafore as the Honorable Admiral H.K.Porter, KCB.

At Wesley, Mr. England served on a number of committees, including Stewardship, Staff Parish Relations, Memorial Gifts, and it's Administrative Board. He was a member and officer of the United Methodist Men and in 1994 was named Laymen of the Year. In the 90's, he helped establish a writing group, "Reflections," which was the catalyst for his first published book, Nearing Perfect. For 2 years he was the facilitator for the Worcester Area Unemployed Support and Networking Group at Wesley, where 50 to 60 attended weekly meetings during a severe unemployment period in the early 1990's. He was honored to be a mentor for several of Wesley's youth.

Mr. England lived his life with integrity, patience, and respect for all people. He was open-minded and listened to both sides of an issue. He was a gentle-man, a true negotiator. His mind was very inquiring and always learning about new ideas and thinking in the world. He enjoyed playing golf, always trying to hit that perfect shot and succeeded with one hole-in-one. He loved to travel and relished finding his family genealogical history in Scotland and visiting relatives who still live there. Bridge was another activity he enjoyed and recently could be found doing Sudoku puzzles.

A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 Main Street, Worcester at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 3, 2009 with The Rev. Vicki Woods officiating. There are no calling hours. A reception and collation will be held following the service. After cremation, ashes will be distributed in part at the terminal points of the MA Mid-State Trail, which he had hiked with his wife in 1994. Final remains will be buried in the family plot at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wesley Honor Fund or the music program at Wesley UMC, Worcester. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, is directing arrangements.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com