Bernard Stage Obituary

STAGE, Bernard L. "Pete"
Of Alba, PA, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday afternoon, October 14, 2007, following a period of declining health and a fifteen month battle against cancer. Born in Elmira, NY, he was the son of the late Arthur and Beatrice (French) Stage. Pete was a veteran of WWII having served his country as a paratrooper with the 82nd "Screaming Eagles" Airborne and the 163rd Airborne AA Battalion of the U.S. Army. Pete and his wife, Shirley (Palmer), who predeceased him in April of 1994, are best remembered as the owners and operators of the "White Tavern", a popular eatery in Alba, for more than twenty years until it was destroyed by fire in November, 1983. Following his retirement with the demise of the "White Tavern", Pete employed his experience and expertise by serving two separate stints as club manager at the Moose Lodge in Canton, PA as well as the V.F.W./American Legion in Troy, PA. The New York Yankee baseball family lost one of its most avid, lifelong fans when Pete passed away. He was not only a Yankee fan but a baseball history buff. Pete was a life member of Troy's V.F.W. Post 8675, a life member of the Captain Clarence R. Oliver American Legion Post 154 in Elmira Heights, NY and a member of Canton's Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 429. Surviving are his wife, Patricia (VanNoy); two children, Ronald Stage of Escondido, CA and Sheryl Lynn Struble of Tucson, AZ; the mother of his children, Marjorie Hafflett of Elmira, NY; three grandchildren, Carrie S. Birosh of Dallas, TX, John (Kim) Struble of Jacksonville, FL, and Jeffery Struble of Binghamton, NY. Pete is also survived by several nieces and nephews who affectionately knew him as "Uncle Pete". Family will receive friends from 10 – 12 Noon Wednesday, October 17, at Pepper Funeral Home, Springbrook Dr., Canton. The funeral service will be held at Noon with Rev. David B. Morris officiating. Interment will follow at Park Cemetery in Canton with Military Honors accorded. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests contributions in Pete's memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.