Ella Blanche Stark

Blanche's funeral service will be live streamed. Please note that the live stream will start approximately 15 minutes before the service time. To view the live stream, scroll down to the services portion of her tribute page and click "open video" under the funeral service tab. We are planning on recording her service as well so if there are any technological interruptions, we can post it later on in the day.

Ella Blanche Stark (nee Miller) was born Nov. 14, 1923, in Jet, Oklahoma. She is predeceased by her parents, Frank Marian Miller and Mabel Hall Miller, and her siblings, Russel, Wallace, Edith, Minta Mae, and Harold. Her children are Janice Welch (Jim), Kerwin Stark (Kay) and Anita Leschied (Donald). Ella Blanche graduated in Botany at Oklahoma A&M in 1944. Upon graduation she received an offer of employment from the Biochemical department of Dow Chemical of Midland and met her future husband, Philip Stark (1910-1993) who worked in the same agriculture department at Dow. They were married in Nov. 1945.

After her 3 children were in school, she went back to Central Michigan to obtain her Teacher's Certificate and her first job was teaching at the one room Pioneer School on 9 Mile where she taught all 8 grades. She then taught at Gordonville and Floyd elementary schools for a combined 19 years.

She was a member of the Wilbur Thomas Lamphierd Chapter of the Daughters of the Union, a charter member of the Women's National History Museum in Washington D.C., a member of the Homer United Methodist Church. She loved to attend concerts at the Midland Center for the Arts, and enjoyed the Men of Music especially. She retired from teaching in 1981 and was available for grandma duties. When Philip had a stroke in 1988, she became a caregiver until his death in 1993. She stayed at the 5 Mile farm until 2016 when she moved into Washington Woods where she loved her new friends.

She leaves a legacy to 8 grandchildren, Jill, Denise, Steve Welch; Sarah, Kelsey Stark; and Paul, Jessica, Christina Leschied, and 22 great children scattered from Switzerland, Canada to California.

At her 90th birthday party she thanked people saying 'it takes a village to care for an old lady'. She was grateful to friends, neighbors and family for allowing her to stay on the farm with their support. For her 100th, the family asked people to recall a memory they associated with our mother. Her walls at King's Daughters, where she has made home since June 2022, were covered with greetings from so many.

The family would like to thank the staff at King's Daughters, Careline Hospice staff, and especially Sally Gombosi who has been Mom's eyes, ears, personal dresser, personal shopper and dear friend. We also wish to express our thanks to her neighbors, her long- time friends, her church friends and her extended family for visits, cards, phone calls and prayers over these many years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider Little Forks Conservancy, Chippewa Nature Center, Homer United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd. Midland, MI 48640. Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home with visitation starting an hour before. The luncheon will follow in the Wilson Reception Room located at the funeral home. Private burial will be in Midland City Cemetery.