Tim Bouscher – Aug. 3, 2017
The Ray Stahl that I remember was a hard-working, fun, story- telling grandpa.
We would cut firewood on the hill. I mostly plinked with my bb gun putting smaller pieces of wood in the trailer. He would let me ride on the fender of his Allis wc when we were doing stuff. We made maple syrup and apple cider.*** It was fun for me; I didn't have to do any of the hard work.
The stories he told were always funny; I knew every cuss word there was by the time I was six. Spending time in the mine shack was pretty neat for a young boy - strange equipment, parts everywhere, old pot belly stove to keep warm, and tales to listen to.
Dad, grandpa and I would go fishing at Salt Fork Lake. He would let me drive the boat but it didn't take long for me to scare them and take the wheel back.
Shooting guns was another favorite past time. I was about ten when he thought it would be fun to let me shoot his army O3-A3. He told me to hit the chicken coop about thirty yards away. I missed by a mile; he thought my reaction to the big gun was funny.
He also let me try a spoonful of Hersey's cocoa (for his pleasure, I guess). He was a little bit ornery.
Growing up in New Philadelphia and getting to go down to the farm was a great experience - mine cars to push around, water pump we had to prime to get water, the outhouse, old oil lamp for light - seemed like a hard life but that's what he was used to.
I was only twelve when he passed away but he made a big impression on me. As I got older, relatives would tell me, “You act like Ray.” That always makes me feel good.
*** Ray tapped the maple trees on his property to collect the syrup and then boiled it down over big fires in the yard. The apple cider was made from the apples in his orchard. Pressed down with an old hand-turned cider press.