Frank Mitchell Stifler, Sr.

Frank Mitchell Stifler, Sr., age 91, died on November 13, 2022, peacefully at his home in Timberville, Virginia with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dorothy Long Stifler. Also surviving - his son, Frank "Mitch" Stifler, Jr. and wife Joyce; grandchildren, Joshua Stifler, Heather Schultz and husband Paul Schultz; great grandchildren, Jaxon Schultz, Makenna Schultz; numerous nieces and nephews and many cherished friends. He was preceded in death by his brothers Edward, Robert and Jim and sisters Louise and Helen.

Born March 24, 1931 to Thomas Edward Stifler and Clara Hess Stifler at their family home in Fallston, Maryland, Frank “Tuck” was the youngest of the Stifler children. He grew up on the family farm and helped out with his dad’s store.

At age 15 he met the love of his life, Dorothy Winona Long. They started dating and she was invited to his home for dinner for his 16th birthday. Dorothy lived on Jarrettsville Pike at “the rock house,” with her parents Manus and Gertie Long. When Frank brought his truck to pick Dorothy up for a date, they’d say “Dottie, here comes Tuck!” They married May 12, 1951 and they set up house on Green Rd in Baldwin, MD. They built their first home on Ryan Rd in 1957 and lived there for around 30 years.

Frank worked as an iron-worker for years and got involved in side projects, like opening Holiday Motors with his lifelong friend Buck T. Along the way there were boat projects, go-cart racing, donkey baseball, and many other adventures. He formally “retired” from his iron-working profession and moved on to start the next chapter of his life by trying his hand at entrepreneurship. In the late 70’s, he and his buddy Willard, started M & S Landscaping.

Soon after, Frank was bitten by the tractor pulling bug. Frank and “JJ” (his nephew Jimmy) built the original Porky Pig modified pulling tractor. Various modifications and re-builds took place over the years, and “the Stifler Boys” were a tractor pulling team to be reckoned with. The bond between the family/team/pit crew was awesome.

In their early 60’s and now “retired”, Frank and Dot bought a 60 acre farm in Jarrettsville, built two homes, started a 20 horse boarding facility, and maintained rental properties. In the winter they loved to escape to their home in Winter Haven, FL where they created some of their most treasured friendships.

In the 1980’s, Frank took on his new role as a grandfather, AKA Pop, with his usual vigor. He made sure the grandkids grew up with the blessing of having a farm as their playground. He bought their first pony, built a dirt bike track, and gave them their own farm pick-up truck so they could learn to drive and create many amazing farm memories.

He and his crew of friends, relatives and employees built Pop and Dot’s home on their farm, but not before building the party pavilion that served as a venue for our family reunions, birthday parties, weddings, Halloween haunted hayrides and other gatherings that came about.

The Jarrettsville farm (Hickory Hollow Farm) was Frank and Dot’s home for about 15 years but it also served as the hub for Frank and Mitch’s two businesses – J&H Construction and S&S Hauling. Over the years, these businesses worked to develop multiple housing communities, as well as the construction of the Friends Community Park in Forest Hill, MD and the Rock Field Park in Bel Air, MD. Many of the employees of these two businesses bonded and formed some life-long friendships with Frank. In the 1990’s, while the two businesses were running strong, Frank and his team built a commercial building on their property that currently houses Jarrettsville Creamery.

Longing for a simple life like “the good old days”, in 2002, Frank and Dorothy, Mitch, Joyce, Josh and Heather, moved to Timberville, VA in the Shenandoah Valley. At the time it was pretty much 160 acres of rocky land. But Frank, Mitch and Josh have made it a Black Angus cattle farm – Willow Shade Farm– with beautiful pasture, hay fields and cattle, along with the two family homes. True to his nature, Frank has bonded and formed treasured friendships with his Virginia family and friends.

In the final chapter of his life, Pop was blessed by being able to see his granddaughter Heather marry Paul Schultz, a man that our entire family loves. In 2015 and again in 2017, Pop and Dorothy became great-grandparents. Now Jax and Makenna have the pleasure of having Willow Shade Farm as their playground. Through Dorothy, Mitch, Joyce, Josh, Heather, Paul, Jaxon and Makenna, Frank’s legacy will live on.

Rest in peace Pop.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.