KIMMELL — J. Hal Stump, 77, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Select Service Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., after a lengthy illness. He was born on August 9, 1936, in Washington Township, Noble County, to James and Gladys (Stults) Stump. On April 8, 1955, he married Bonita Bender. Hal attended grade school at Washington Center and graduated from Wolf Lake High School with the class of 1954. Hal spent his entire adult life dairy and grain farming. He was a 10-year 4-H member, as were his children and grandchildren. Hal has been a 4-H leader for the past 55 years in Washington Township. He has been treasurer of Northeastern Indiana Dairy Show Committee. He served for 16 years on the West Noble School Board, spent eight years as a West Noble school bus driver, 12 years on the Noble County fair board, 12 years as a Noble County Commissioner and was a member of the Lucky Hospital Museum. Hal has been a member of Ormas Baptis Church for 50 plus years, where he served as song leader, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, deacon and taught Sunday school class for many years. He received the Hoosier Homestead Farm Award in 2004, the Distinguished Hoosier Award in 2009 and was inducted into the Noble County 4-H Hall of Fame in 2013. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bonita; his children, Brian Stump, Edward (Stacia) Stump, and Connie (Todd) Pritchard, all of rural Kimmell. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Janelle (Scott) Schmitt, Justin (Laura) Stump, Tabitha (Chad) Thompson, Andrew Stump, Todd (Cheyenne) Pritchard and James Pritchard; three stepgrandchildren, Sheryl (Ben) Hawkins, and Ethan and Thomas Henry; nine great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; as well as a brother, Larry Stump from Cincinnati, Ohio; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jeanette (Murray) Rowland. A funeral service in his honor will be on Sunday, July 6, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Ormas Baptist Church. Pastor Dan Carlson will officiate. Burial will be in Thorn Cemetery. A time of visitation with the family will be on Saturday, July 5, 2014, from 2-8 p.m. at Yeager Funeral Home, 1589 Lincolnway South, Ligonier, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. Memorial contributions may be given to Ormas Baptist Church or Noble County 4-H Dairy. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.yeagerfuneralhome.com.