Erbyn Robert Stanhope
November 02, 2017
May 15, 1925 – November 2, 2017
Erbyn Stanhope was born on May 15, 1925 in Portland, Maine. He was the second to the youngest of 16 children; 11 brothers and 4 sisters. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the U.S. Navy at 17 years of age. Erbyn was one of five Stanhope brothers to serve in WWII. He was stationed on 3 destroyers including the U.S.S. Mayo which provided direct fire support off the beach during the invasion at Anzio, Italy.
He married Jean Marie Short in 1949 in North Carolina and shortly thereafter moved to Manhattan, Kansas where he attended Kansas State University majoring in Microbiology. He graduated in 1955.
Jean and Erbyn had four children: Rebecca Ann Stanhope, born 1955, Stephen Douglas Stanhope born 1958, Phillip Louis Stanhope born 1961 and Rachel Elizabeth Stanhope born 1964.
Following graduation, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where Erbyn worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a microbiologist until 1965 when he transferred to Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The family moved to the countryside just outside of Paton, Iowa. Erbyn and his family lived there for 35 years. Upon retirement Erbyn and Jean served 2 years in Detroit, Michigan in AmeriCorp as volunteers in a literacy program. They made many friends while in Detroit.
After their service in Detroit they moved back to Paton, Iowa for a few more years until they moved to Green Valley Arizona. While living in Arizona Erbyn and Jean traveled around Arizona and would occasionally venture into Nogales, Mexico. Erbyn and Jean enjoyed traveling to see their children in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Their daughter Rachel took them to Ireland so that Erbyn could see where his parents were born and raised.
Due to illness Erbyn and Jean moved back to Johnston, Iowa in 2006 where they lived in the Bishop Drumm retirement community. Erbyn’s wife Jean passed away on September 9, 2015. Erbyn is survived by 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Rachel Stanhope
11/21/2017
Thank you all for your condolences. He had a nice service out at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. He was sent off in style with military honors from the Navy and a gun salute.
Maria Pulsoni
11/15/2017
Best uncle ever!!!!!!!! He sure knew how to have fun,
He loved Tony's Donuts. I tried to make a point of getting him some whenever he came to Maine. He would have a big smile on his face like a kid in a candy store.
It just warmed my heart every time because we both knew that we were going to be in trouble with Aunt Jean later. I will never forget him or Aunt Jean. Man, they were the perfect couple. My sympathies to the family.
Love Maria Pulsoni
Rosalthe & Judith Stanhope
11/10/2017
Mom and I wish to extend our heart felt sympathies to the family. We remember the good times we had back in the 60's when Erbyn , Jean and the kids visited Maine. Their first stop was 1001 Brighton Ave. When I drove across the country to go to graduate school in Seattle, Erbyn and Jean welcomed me into their home and gave the the grand tour. Erbyn was special. Dad was so proud of him and would often speak of him.
The entire H. Joseph Stanhope
Family will miss him.
Love Rose and Judy
Philip Stanhope
11/05/2017
My family and I wish to extend our heart felt sympathies to the family of Erbyn Stanhope.
Erbyn was a fun teenager, prankster you name it. With the family dog in his bicycle
basket he would ride all over the neighborhood, many a time I would be the second passenger.
Still as a kid with his parents consent, he walked over Adams St. off to WWII.
He had never been beyond the suburbs of Portland, Maine. He was a true
patriot the youngest of five brothers to serve in WWII.
He returned as an adult, built his career, married and with his wife Jean he was a
proud father of their family.
He will be sadly missed, he was the last of a family of ten siblings.
With all our love,
Philip & Betty Stanhope and family.