Judson
Judson E. Stearns
d. August 7, 2008
Judson E. Stearns Sr.
Judson E. Stearns, Sr., 88, lovingson, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather left this world August 7, 2008.
Jud was born in Hornell, October 28, 1919, the son of John V. and Frieda(Palmiter) Stearns, spending his childhood there, later living on HartsvilleHill, and residing in Alfred Station for 65 years. He graduated from Hornell High Schoolin 1938 and from Alfred University in 1942.
Jud started Stearns Poultry in 1937 as a way to finance hiscollege education. After losing the family cheese factory to fire in 1941, hemoved with his parents, Victor and Frieda, his grandparents and a great aunt tothe farm on Route 244, where Stearns Poultry continues to this day.
In 1951, Jud went into a partnership with his parents andopened a retail poultry store in Hornell.He and Margaret attended a chicken barbeque "school" in Rhode Island, and thebeginning of an Alfred Station icon was created~ Stearns Chicken Barbeque. Judwent on to teach the Alfred Station Firemen the fine art of the chickenbarbeque, and they used this as a major fundraising event for many decades. In1967, Jud opened the Stearns Little Red Hen, providing fried chicken to thepeople of the area, and a place to work for many, many teenagers during thesixteen years the restaurant was open.
Jud and Margaret ( Davis)were married in 1945. Margaret was the absolute love of Jud's life; they hadfour children, ran a business together, traveled and camped with theirchildren, and provided a home-away-from-home for in-laws, cousins,grandchildren, and friends. Judson's family was his joy. He was a lover ofgames, (the noisier the better), stories, dancing, sledding, picnicking,camping and fishing, and laughing. Even when he became legally blind in his late60's, he did not stop having adventures, traveling, or enjoying family andfriends.
Jud was friendly to all, and a friend of many people. Hewill be remembered for his gentle spirit and loving ways, his raucous laugh,his off-key, but heartfelt singing, his room-clearing sneezes, his love of agood story (whether he told it, or listened to it), and his deep and abidingfaith in God and belief that his family, his friends, his customers, and hiscaregivers (for the last 18 months) at Manor Hills and Wellsville Manor weregood, caring, kind and generous people.
Jud was a member of many service organizations: the HornellTriangle Club and the Hornell Rotary Club. In his young adult years, he was aBoy Scout Leader and Scout Master for Troop 19. Jud was and a member of theAlfred Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of the University Lodge # 944 F& AM as well as the Canacadea Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. He was also alife member of the Alfred Station Fire Company. Jud and Margaret both tookgreat pleasure in their membership in the Bakers Bridge Historical Society. Judwas a dedicated and active member of the Alfred Union University Church,serving as the Sunday School Superintendent when his children were small, andon various other boards.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret (Davis)Stearns; children: Janice (David) Porter of Wellsville, Linda (Sam) Conner ofLafayette, IN, Pat (Steve) Cole of Bloomington, IN, and Judson Jr. (Mary) ofAlfred Station.; six grandchildren: Caitilin (Alan) Dewey, Jessica Ormsby,Christopher (Jennifer) Conner, Jeremy (Liz) Stearns, Rachel Cole and ColinCole; and five great grandchildren: Benjamin Dewey, Madeleine Dewey, JacilynOrmsby, D.J. Ormsby, Lucas Stearns, and a soon-to-be-born great granddaughterConner. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Brigid Porter, and hisgreat-granddaughter, Jamie Ormsby.
To send a remembrance, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com
The family will be present to receive friends from 4pm-7pm Monday, at the Bender-Brownand Powers Funeral Home,
354Canisteo Street, Hornell. Funeral services will be held 7 PM Tuesday at the Union University Church in Alfred withRev. Laurie DeMott officiating. Burialwill be in Alfred Rural Cemetery.
Friends may make memorial contributions to Union UniversityChurch, 29 Main Street, Alfred, NY 14802, the Alfred Station Fire Department,Alfred Station, NY 14803, or to the Five Rivers Council of Boy Scouts ofAmerica.
Judson E. Stearns, Sr., 88, lovingson, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather left this world August 7, 2008.
Jud was born in Hornell, October 28, 1919, the son of John V. and Frieda(Palmiter) Stearns, spending his childhood there, later living on HartsvilleHill, and residing in Alfred Station for 65 years. He graduated from Hornell High Schoolin 1938 and from Alfred University in 1942.
Jud started Stearns Poultry in 1937 as a way to finance hiscollege education. After losing the family cheese factory to fire in 1941, hemoved with his parents, Victor and Frieda, his grandparents and a great aunt tothe farm on Route 244, where Stearns Poultry continues to this day.
In 1951, Jud went into a partnership with his parents andopened a retail poultry store in Hornell.He and Margaret attended a chicken barbeque "school" in Rhode Island, and thebeginning of an Alfred Station icon was created~ Stearns Chicken Barbeque. Judwent on to teach the Alfred Station Firemen the fine art of the chickenbarbeque, and they used this as a major fundraising event for many decades. In1967, Jud opened the Stearns Little Red Hen, providing fried chicken to thepeople of the area, and a place to work for many, many teenagers during thesixteen years the restaurant was open.
Jud and Margaret ( Davis)were married in 1945. Margaret was the absolute love of Jud's life; they hadfour children, ran a business together, traveled and camped with theirchildren, and provided a home-away-from-home for in-laws, cousins,grandchildren, and friends. Judson's family was his joy. He was a lover ofgames, (the noisier the better), stories, dancing, sledding, picnicking,camping and fishing, and laughing. Even when he became legally blind in his late60's, he did not stop having adventures, traveling, or enjoying family andfriends.
Jud was friendly to all, and a friend of many people. Hewill be remembered for his gentle spirit and loving ways, his raucous laugh,his off-key, but heartfelt singing, his room-clearing sneezes, his love of agood story (whether he told it, or listened to it), and his deep and abidingfaith in God and belief that his family, his friends, his customers, and hiscaregivers (for the last 18 months) at Manor Hills and Wellsville Manor weregood, caring, kind and generous people.
Jud was a member of many service organizations: the HornellTriangle Club and the Hornell Rotary Club. In his young adult years, he was aBoy Scout Leader and Scout Master for Troop 19. Jud was and a member of theAlfred Lions Club. He was a lifelong member of the University Lodge # 944 F& AM as well as the Canacadea Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. He was also alife member of the Alfred Station Fire Company. Jud and Margaret both tookgreat pleasure in their membership in the Bakers Bridge Historical Society. Judwas a dedicated and active member of the Alfred Union University Church,serving as the Sunday School Superintendent when his children were small, andon various other boards.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret (Davis)Stearns; children: Janice (David) Porter of Wellsville, Linda (Sam) Conner ofLafayette, IN, Pat (Steve) Cole of Bloomington, IN, and Judson Jr. (Mary) ofAlfred Station.; six grandchildren: Caitilin (Alan) Dewey, Jessica Ormsby,Christopher (Jennifer) Conner, Jeremy (Liz) Stearns, Rachel Cole and ColinCole; and five great grandchildren: Benjamin Dewey, Madeleine Dewey, JacilynOrmsby, D.J. Ormsby, Lucas Stearns, and a soon-to-be-born great granddaughterConner. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Brigid Porter, and hisgreat-granddaughter, Jamie Ormsby.
To send a remembrance, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com
The family will be present to receive friends from 4pm-7pm Monday, at the Bender-Brownand Powers Funeral Home,
354Canisteo Street, Hornell. Funeral services will be held 7 PM Tuesday at the Union University Church in Alfred withRev. Laurie DeMott officiating. Burialwill be in Alfred Rural Cemetery.
Friends may make memorial contributions to Union UniversityChurch, 29 Main Street, Alfred, NY 14802, the Alfred Station Fire Department,Alfred Station, NY 14803, or to the Five Rivers Council of Boy Scouts ofAmerica.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Judson E. Stearns, please visit our flower store.
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