James E. Stafford

James Earl Stafford, 84, a resident of Friendship Village, Upper St. Clair, formerly of Scott Township, passed on to his next adventure on December 7, 2025 after a brief acute illness and a longer struggle with Lewy body disease. He was born in Waynesburg, PA on February 6, 1941, the son of Mary Ellen (Zink) and Arthur E. Stafford. He graduated from Waynesburg High School in the class of 1960, where he met his future wife and the love of his life, Patricia Eagon, whom he married in 1965. In high school Jim joined the US Navy Reserve, and after graduation, went on to active duty as an electrician in submarine service. After his honorable discharge in 1964, he returned to Western Pennsylvania and enrolled in Point Park College, where he earned an associate degree in engineering technology, and became employed as an engineering technician at McGraw-Edison in Canonsburg. After a few years, he returned to school to earn a certificate in dental technology and worked as a master crown-and-bridge specialist in the laboratory of ALFA Dentistry, Mount Lebanon, until his retirement. Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Eagon, and his daughters Elizabeth (Monica) of Baltimore, MD, and Laura Rybka (Marek) of Broomall, PA. He is survived by his sister Ruth (the late Pat Payne) of Laguna Beach, CA, and his brothers Edward (Heather) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Richard (Rita Resick) of Somerset PA, his cousin Bob Pharaoh (Claire) of Denville, NJ, and his sister-in-law Catherine Eagon (Barbara Woolcott), of Pittsburgh. He leaves behind granddaughters Sarijana Addison and Zofia Rybka and grandson, Kasimir Rybka, nieces Mary Jayne Ledgerwood, Andrea (Paul) and Tracy (Steve) Wallace, and nephews Larry Joe Resick (Deb), and Douglas Cahn. He was an honorary uncle to many, among them Tom, Tim, Eric, Nick, and the late Mike Churney, Matthew and Nicholas Borgia. Jim loved the outdoors, with hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and camping as favorites. One of his novel adventures involved canoeing, with his daughter Liz, the entire length of the Monongahela River, from the headwaters in West Virginia to the Point in Pittsburgh. The journey took two years of weekend travel. He hiked high peaks in the Adirondacks with brother Ed, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire with cousin Peter Land. Winter brought downhill skiing locally, and in the West, New England and Canada. Jim found joy and purpose in helping his community. As a young man in Waynesburg, he was a volunteer fireman and received an award for saving the life of a choking child. In Pittsburgh, he was a member of the committee that established the food pantry garden at SHIM. He pounded nails for Habitat for Humanity, delivered Meals on Wheels, worked with Rick and Rita on their farm, and could fix just about anything as the go-to neighbor. Jim was a devoted and active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he worked in many outreach activities. He rarely cooked at home but was an active kitchen worker at fish fries and for meals to be donated. He was famous for his precise slicing of hundreds, if not thousands, of meat loafs for meals for needy and homeless people. He loved to accompany the church youth on their mission trips, and, on one, was awarded the title of “Best Teller of Tall Tales” after entertaining them with stories. The family is grateful for the care he received on the Special Care Unit of the Friendship Village Medical Center, especially the teasing, joking, and support he received from Sharon and Anna Marie and many wonderful CNAs. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the St. Paul’s Outreach Commission, your local volunteer fire company, and organizations that support environment protection or social justice for the oppressed. Visitation with family is 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Friday, December 19, 2025, at WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, 1650 Greentree Road, Scott Twp. 15220. (412-563-2800 A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1066 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon PA, on Saturday, December 20 at 2pm with reception to follow at the church. The service will be live-streamed through the St. Paul Facebook page. www.slaterfuneral.com