Ruth Stancil Janiuk
- Born: May 7, 1915 Johnston, NC
- Died: Nov. 24, 1987 Erie, PA
- Buried: Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, Erie, PA
- Married: Stanley Anthony Janiuk Jr.
Ruth Stancil Janiuk
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Ruth's children with Stanley Anthony Janiuk Jr. |
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| Pamela Ruth Janiuk Weaver Dec. 3, 1949 Johnston, NC-May 8, 2009 Erie, PA |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Courtesy Stancil Reunion Archive |
Ruth Stancil Janiuk and Stanley A. Janiuk Jr. shared a life that spanned from the rural landscapes of North Carolina to the industrial cities of Pennsylvania. Their journey, marked by war, family, and a strong sense of devotion, brought them together and established a lasting legacy.
Ruth Stancil was born on May 7, 1916, in Johnston County, North Carolina, the fourth child of Oscar and Allie Edwards Stancil. Known for her beautiful natural blond hair and lovely singing voice, Ruth began her education at Glendale. She often sang duets with her older sister, Gurnie, for classes at Glendale.
Ruth's schooling and living situation were impacted by family changes. When her parents, Mamie and Oscar, separated in 1927, Ruth and Gurnie moved in with Henry and Frances. Their move to Durham meant attending a new school there. In 1929, when her Grandpa Henry returned to Glendale, Ruth, then only 14, accompanied them and attended Kenly High School, though she left before graduation. For a time, Ruth moved back in with Oscar and worked at a tobacco factory in Durham. She was described as very pretty and sweet, with many boyfriends.
In a poignant moment, Ruth served as a flower girl at her Grandpa Henry Stancil's funeral on March 25, 1933, dressed in her Sunday best.
Stanley A. Janiuk Jr. was born on January 19, 1918, in Pennsylvania. His parents, Stanley A. Sr. and Rose Janiuk, had immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1912 and 1913, speaking English with a noticeable accent.
Stanley Jr. grew up with a younger sister, Helen, and a younger brother, Chester. In the 1930 Census, his father worked as a machinist for the Hammermill Paper Company in a paper mill located on East Lake Road, Erie, Pennsylvania. By the time Stanley Jr. enlisted in the Army in 1941, the family resided at 1317 East 8th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania. Stanley Jr. had completed four years of high school before his enlistment.
During World War II, Ruth moved to Virginia. She was hired to transport cars for the government, a role that required continuous travel. Eventually, Ruth began driving for an Army Colonel. It was at a social function, possibly a dance, that she met Stanley A. Janiuk, who was serving in the Army. Their connection deepened, and Ruth took Stanley to Durham to meet her sister Gurnie. Ruth and Stanley were married during the war, likely somewhere in the Southern United States. Ruth continued her work for the colonel until the war concluded.
After the war, Stanley and Ruth settled in Erie, Pennsylvania. Stanley resumed his career with the Hammermill Paper Company, working in management and establishing a good living for their family.
They welcomed a daughter, Pamela Ruth Janiuk, whom they adopted from an orphanage in Greensboro, North Carolina, when she was 1 year old. Pamela was born on December 3, 1949, in Kenly, North Carolina.
Family ties remained important. Gurnie and her children visited Ruth's family in Pennsylvania, and Stanley's mother, Rose Janiuk, affectionately known as "Ma Janiuk," was celebrated for her delicious peanut butter cookies. Ruth also took several trips to Hawaii to visit her relative, Guy.
Ruth passed away on November 24, 1987, in Erie, Pennsylvania. Her funeral was held at Saint Mark's Catholic Church in Erie, and she was laid to rest in the Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery in Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Stanley continued to live in Erie. He passed away on September 5, 1999, and is buried beside his beloved Ruth in the Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.
Ruth and Stanley's story is one of wartime connection, building a life together, and raising a family far from their individual origins, leaving behind a legacy rooted in love and shared experiences.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil
