Janice M. Stocker

Janice Marie Stocker, 88, of Decatur, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at her home after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Dr.Stocker (Jan) was born March 12, 1931, in Bradford, Ohio, daughter of Chester and Helen D. Stocker; the youngest of four children. She spent her youth in Bradford, helping with the family business and enjoying time on the family farm; she fondly remembered fishing trips to the Great Lakes with her father over the summers.

In addition to loving the outdoors, Jan was dedicated to learning and improving herself as well as others. In 1954, Jan graduated from Earlham College with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She stayed at Earlham to teach briefly before teaching at the high school in Richmond, Indiana for six years. While teaching high school, she also pursued and completed her Master of Education degree at Ball State University. Upon completing her master’s degree, she accepted a teaching fellowship at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and began work towards her doctoral degree in education. She continued teaching throughout this time at Slippery Rock University and returned to Ball State as a professor when she completed her doctoral degree in 1973.

While at Ball State, Jan became the Women’s Athletic Director, and in 1976, she was offered the position of Assistant Athletic Director and associate professor at West Virginia University. Jan’s accomplishments as a female athletic director led to an opportunity to become the Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1979, a position she held for 5 years. This position led to an opportunity to serve as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator for Florida State University. Jan loved being back on a college campus and she loved cheering on the Seminoles, particularly the football team. She retired from FSU in 1997 after a full and rewarding career and moved to the Atlanta area.

Jan spent her retirement being outside, gardening, fishing, going to the beach, and keeping in touch with many of the student-athletes she mentored. As one such mentee shared: “Truly, she was one of the most caring people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Fondly known as Janny Bananny to family and close friends (specifically those under the age of 10), Dr.Stocker was a friend, mentor, and teacher to all that knew her. Her kindness and gentle spirit were gifts she freely gave to others.

Survivors include her longtime friend, Missy Garrett; two siblings, Jean Stocker Pugh and Clifford Stocker; and multiple nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sibling, Herb Stocker, and her parents.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 10th, at 1pm in the Chapel of A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home with Reverend Laura Jerningan officiating. The family will receive friends before the memorial service from 11am until 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Earlham College Women’s Sports Program in memory of Jan Stocker. (Checks mailed to: Earlham College, Drawer 193, 801 National Road West Richmond, IN 47374) To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit their memorial page at www.asturner.com