STERNS, George W. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

George W. Sterns was born in Fountain County, Indiana March 27, 179 the second of two children.  His father, George W. Sterns had died two months earlier, so he began life with his mother, Nancy and sister, Zora.  Psalms 23: The Lord is my shepherd … We are gathered here this afternoon to pay our last respects to the life and memory of George W. Sterns and in so doing, recall to mind his life on this earth with us, his friends and his family.  Death cannot still nor dim our memories of George W. Sterns because his way of life and his beliefs remain with us now and in the years to come.  George Sterns was one of the flock and the Lord was his Shepherd. He was content to remain anonymous for he did not seek glory in high places; he was content to be led, rather than lead and he was content to value his worldly possession, not in money but in a multitude of friends and the love of his family.  He followed the trail of the Good Shepherd and he did not want, because in doing for others, he received a bountiful harvest of love and friendship.  This may lay in green pastures and lived by still waters.  He appreciated and loved the bountiful things that God place on earth, some for him to use and some to admire. His love the trees in the forest and the wood that he fashioned into many things; his love of the soil and the many things that it grew; his love of flowers and mountains and all things beautiful in nature are but small evidence of his close communion with God.  He was not hasty in his conversation nor his thinking.  His thought could be found on the still waters in a protected harbor, far from the pounding surf of present day life.  He listened to the surf and knew it well but it did not lure him away from his own snug harbor.  He was best with trials and tribulations that came to every man but lived his life from day to day in the belief that God will right your soul, even in the anguish of life’s greatest disappointments. His strength was his good humor and cheerfulness and though 74 years old physically, his mind was ever young.  A righteous man, yes by the words that passed his lips and the tasks that he performed.  He faces his Maker without regrets, animosities or misgivings. He was a small man in physique but he fears nothing physical or spiritual.  He feared no evil because he felt no evil.  God accompanied him through life and he learned heavily on His rod and staff in hours of greatest need.  George Sterns was a gentle, kind man, sincere and fair in all things that he did.  He had no enemies because he was humble before God and man.  His home was his castle and his wife and children were his special pride and in these things his cup runneth over with happiness.  By his mark on the wall of life for all to see ,goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life.  And as we gaze on his features for the last time, we know that even now he dwells in the house of the Lord. George W. Sterns left this earth Jan 31, 1954, 74 years of age.  He leaves behind his loving wife, Lillie May Sterns, three sons, Lorance, Ston and George William Sterns, his sister, Zora Sterns, six grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. – kbz

Source: 1950s Area Obituaries – thanks to Covington Public Library (especially Brenda) p 132 hand dated  Feb 1954

Relatives in Hillsboro received word Sunday night of the death of a former Hillsboro resident, George Sterns, 74 who died at his home in Indianapolis about 10 o’clock Sunday night.  He had been suffering from a heart ailment for several weeks.  He was the son of George W. and Nancy Kerr Sterns and was born on a farm southeast of Hillsboro on March 27, 1879 and was reared in the home of his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Francis Kerr near Hillsboro. On Dec 7, 1902 he was married to Lilly Snyder who survives. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1952.  He was a member of the Hillsboro Christian Church.  Has been engaged in carpenter work most of his life and operated the old Hillsboro Mill for a number of years. The family left Hillsboro more than 30 years ago. Surviving besides the widow are three sons: Lorance and Eston both of Indianapolis and George William of Denver, Colo; a sister, Miss Zora Sterns of Veedersburg and six grandchildren.  He also leaves a number of relatives in this vicinity. A 6-year-old daughter preceded him in death. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the McCarty Funeral Home in Indianapolis at 2815 Shelby St with burial in the Washington Park Cemetery, Indianapolis – kbz