Stanley J. Headlee
Stanley J. Headlee, age 95, of Waynesburg, Pa., died Saturday, March 10, 2007. He was born July 30, 1911, on the family farm, located between Garards Fort and Davistown, Greene County, Pa., the son of Mark and Ethel Rose Headlee.
On July 24, 1937, he married Ardis Ruth Fearer Headlee, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons: Harland R. Headlee of Waynesburg, Pa., and Robert V. Headlee of Rices Landing, Pa.; two brothers: Kenneth Headlee of Strasburg, Ohio, and Shirl Headlee of Waynesburg, Pa.; two sisters: Gladys Headlee Brewer of Headlee Heights, Greene County, Pa., and Ida Headlee Wade of Tarpon Springs, Florida; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Deceased are his parents, five brothers, Earle, Furman, Glen, Ray “Mike”, and Russell Headlee, and one sister, Dorothy Headlee Vernon.
During his early school years, Stanley and his older brothers walked four miles to school each day.
During the 1920’s and 1930’s, he, along with other students from Dunkard and Greene townships, rented rooms in Mapletown so they could attend high school. He lettered in basketball, football and track all four years. He was named “All County Quarterback” both his junior and senior years. He set a record at the Greene County Track Meet in the javelin throw, which stood for many years. He also played in the school orchestra and sang in a quartet called “The Greensboro Harmony Boys”.
After graduating in 1931, he made five trips to a farming area north of Dodge City, Kansas, to work in the wheat fields. He and his companions toured the West, even mining for gold in the Rocky Mountains. On one trip, they walked up Pikes Peak.
One of his first jobs in Greene County was working for Greene Township breaking rock for fill on the Garards Fort Road.
He also worked for R. G. Johnson, sinking the shaft at the Robena Mine Complex near Cabbage Flats.
He attended college at Westminster, California and Waynesburg and graduated with a Bachelors Degree.
He taught school at Davistown Elementary and at Mapletown High School where he also coached football.
He later left teaching to become a District Sales Manager in Greene County for Farm Bureau Insurance, which changed its name to Nationwide Insurance. He was transferred to Allegheny County where he supervised fifteen sales agents in southern Allegheny County from his office in the Clark Building in Pittsburgh, Pa. He and his agents set records in production each year for the four years he served as manager in the southern Allegheny District.
In 1956, he opened his own insurance business in Waynesburg named The Headlee Agency. Over the years he increased the volume of his business by purchasing the Vance Agency in Mount Morris and the Titus Insurance Agency in Waynesburg, Pa. Eventually he added real estate to his agency’s services.
He was involved in several major real estate developments in Greene County. He brokered the site location for a developer, which resulted in the construction of the Greene Plaza located near interstate 79 at Waynesburg. He was contracted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to appraise the right of ways for the construction of Interstate 79 from Mount Morris to Marianna. He completed appraisals for the Department of Federal Housing of Greene County and for Franklin Township. He was also involved in appraisal work on Ryerson State Park and for the Hughes House in Jefferson, Pa.
He and Glen Arnold of Arnold Real Estate worked with United States Steel in acquiring land for the Kirby Mine as well as railroad right of ways from Kirby to the Monongahela River near Alicia. United States Steel Representatives offered both men the opportunity to option up the properties; however, they declined as they felt it would be unfair to the property owners, the same people they had done business with for many years.
Mr. Headlee was a member of the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Waynesburg where he served on the Administrative Board and sang in the choir.
While living in Garards Fort, he was a member and Sunday School Superintendent at the Mount Calvary United Methodist Church.
He served as Chairman of the first sewage authority in West Franklin Township.
He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Waynesburg Lodge No. 153 Free and Accepted Masons, the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, Syria Temple of the Shrine and also The International Order of Odd Fellows.
He was also a member of The Sons of the American Revolution, The Patriotic Sons of America, Rotary International, and the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoyed hunting and golf and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
He and his wife vacationed in Clearwater, Florida, during the winter for 17 years.
Friends will be received on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the BEHM FUNERAL HOMES INC., 182 West High Street, Waynesburg, Pa., Chuck Behm, Funeral Director, where Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, March 14, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William Parker and the Rev. Jerrad Peterman officiating.
Interment will follow in Garards Fort Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Salvation Army of Greene County, 131 West First Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370 or to the Washington Greene Blind Association, 566 East Maiden Street, Washington PA 15301.
Waynesburg Lodge No. 153 F. & A. M. will hold Services in the Funeral Home on Tuesday at 7 p.m.