Julia Jane Stinson

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she was raised near Philadelphia where her father was the head of the

English Department at George School, a private Quaker prep school. In her late teens, she

enjoyed being in Summer Stock, acting at the Bucks County Play House. During WWII Janie

and her mother were both employed as airplane mechanics to support the war effort. During this

time she met and married Hershel Monroe Stinson (Stence). They had 55 wonderful years

together before Stence died in 1998. Early in their marriage, Janie and Stence were relocated by

DuPont to the Houston area. They grew to love the city and raised 3 children; 2 daughters and

one son (who tragically died by accident at the age of 16). Janie was always interested in

clothing design and created by hand her daughters’ clothes, costumes for their many dance

performances, and their unique prom and wedding dresses. Her talent in interior design

emphasized Oriental art and decor. Her additional hobbies included travel, ceramics, dance,

games, exercise, and most especially reading. She enjoyed helping others achieve fitness goals

and at one time owned two health salons. For the last eight years of her life, Janie lived at The

Village of Tanglewood, enjoying numerous friends there (both residents and employees),

especially her boyfriend of five years, Jim Kepple. She is survived by her two daughters and

their husbands, Trina Stanfield (Jack Stanfield) and June Yoder (Dr. Jim Yoder), seven

grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. A Celebration of her Life will be on Saturday,

August 25th, at 1:30pm, at The Village of Tanglewood. Donations in Janie’s honor may be sent

to Houston SPCA.