Ernest "Ernie" Stidham

Ernest (Ernie) Stidham was born September 26, 1929 to Charles and Cora Stidham and departed this life on July 16, 2024. 

Visitation will be from 6-7:00 PM, Monday, July 22, 2024 at Boxwell Brothers, 2800 Paramount. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Ernie was born in the small town of Scioto Furnace, Ohio, near the Ohio River. He was the 16th child out of a total of 17. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and 16 siblings.

Sometime in the mid 1940’s, the family relocated to a farm in central Ohio, east of Columbus, where Ernie attended and graduated from High School in 1947. Shortly after graduating, Ernie turned 18 and joined the U.S. Navy in April of 1948. He served four years and was station in Hawaii, Guam, and eventually Korea aboard the USS Bolster. Ernie was a Korean War Veteran.

He married the love of his life, Shirley Good, on August 15th, 1953 in Union County Indiana. They had two children, Paul Ernest (Ernie) and Steven Martin (Steve). Ernie and Shirley were married for 67 years and Shirley preceded him in death in 2020. He is survived by sons Ernie Stidham and wife Jane, and Steve Stidham and wife Laura. He is also survived by grandchildren Samantha Kent and husband Jeremy, Marlena Austin and husband Chad, Nicholas Stidham and wife Brittany, and Brice Stidham, along with great-grandchildren Marydith Stidham, Braden Austin, Braxton Austin, Wyatt Stidham, and Weston Stidham, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Ernie was a dedicated father and devout Christian. He was a lifelong member of the Calvary Christian Union Church in Thornport, Ohio.

In 1968 Ernie along with three others founded the Calvaliers Quartet, a gospel singing group for 43 years. Ernie loved traveling around the Ohio area and surrounding states, singing with the Calvaliers. 

Ernie retired from government service after a lengthy career where he worked on the Minuteman Missile program. After enjoying his government retirement for several years, he went back to work for Boeing, eventually retiring again from Boeing. He then spent much of his idle time building bird houses and watching his favorite TV shows: Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Andy Griffith, and FOX News. 

Ernie will be missed by family, friends and all who knew him. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Amarillo are handling arrangements to transport Ernie back to Ohio where he will be laid to rest next to his dear wife Shirley.