Frederick Earl Stahl

Frederick Earl Stahl, 78, passed away on June 24, 2023 in Show Low, Arizona.

Fred was born on October 3, 1944 to Elias and Helen (Casner) Stahl in Danville, Illinois. 

On June 8th, 1969 he married the love of his life Virginia (Ginny) Vaughan.

Fred graduated high school in Hoopeston, IL and then went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Illinois State University. He then earned his doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Fred worked all his life in higher education including faculty and administrator at Black Hawk – East Community College in Kewanee, IL from 1967-1978 and Dean of Instructor at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, AR from 1978-1979. He then moved to Arizona to be the founding Dean of Instruction at South Mountain Community College in 1979. He later became the Dean of Instruction at Paradise Valley Community College until his retirement in 2000.

Fred loved to travel and often did for pleasure or for his profession. He visited all 50 states made many trips to Mexico, Canada, as well as China, Nicaragua, and England to promote faculty and student exchanges. He also went on many Viking cruises including his favorite, Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Fred loved and had many dogs in his life but he especially loved his basset hounds from his childhood dog “Jill” to his current dog “Daisy II.” A bloodhound named “Molly” is included in his list of special hounds. He proudly wore t-shirts from AZ Basset Hound Rescue, the source of many re-homed through the years.

Fred and Ginny made their home in Tempe for 43 years and recently moved to Friendship Village – Tempe. In 2013 he purchased a summer home in Show Low. Fred loved the mountains, woods, wildlife, and hikes around Fools Hollow Lake with Ginny, their dogs, and Jean Ann Abel their friend of 40 years.

Fred was also a Member of Masonic Lodge AZ 2 F & AM, York Rite, and Commandery No. 3 Knights Templar in Phoenix.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law; many aunts and uncles; his close cousin, Harold McBride; brothers-in-law Stuart Vaughan of Arizona and Terry Vaughan of Illinois; nephew, Jeff Vaughan, who made his home with Fred and Ginny for several years.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ginny; brothers-in-law, Irving Vaughan of Oklahoma and Les Vaughan of Illinois; many nieces and nephews; and cousin Helen Comstock of Arizona, who was named after his mother.