Warder Stotlar was born in Marion May 9, 1911, the son of Fred Stotlar and Hattie Warder.
In the 1920 census, Warder was 8 years old and living with his parents at 107 E. Marion Street.
He was graduated from Marion High School in 1929 and in the 1930 census, Warder was 18 years old and living with his parents at 105 E. Marion Street. His parents claimed a value of $8,000 on the home which they owned mortgage free.
After his graduation from Northwestern University in 1933, Stotlar went to work for his father at Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Company, which had headquarters in Marion and had yards in five communities, Christopher, Zeigler, West Frankfort, Johnston City and Murphysboro.
In the book “Growing Up in Little Egypt” by Eldon Lee, he states, “Warder Stotlar, the son of the owner, worked with me and became a lifelong friend and a great help to my future career. Warder had just graduated from Northwestern University and his father wanted to put him in one of his five lumber yards so he could learn the ropes from the ground up. I always admired Warder because he worked as hard as I did. As I think back about my years at Stotlar-Herrin, I realize Warder was one of the best friends I have ever had. We not only kidded and had fun while at work; we also took trips to baseball games in St. Louis and did other social activities together. The people I worked with and the customers were the reasons that I really enjoyed this job.
Warder was married June 19, 1939 to Helen Borum, daughter of Elmer Borum who lived at 107 S. Governor Street.
On June 15, 1942, Warder enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant. He served on the U.S.S. Roy O. Hale, an Edsall-class destroyer escort. The destroyer served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.
On July 16, 1943, while stationed at New London, Connecticut, the couple had their first child, Fred Stotlar, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in New London. They were able to return back to Marion for a visit in early September to allow the new grandparents to see their grandchild.
In June of 1945, an article in the Marion Daily indicated that Warder had returned to duty in Norfolk, Virginia after a visit to his parents. His wife went with him to the new assignment and was able to spend two weeks with him before returning home.
On October 29, 1945, another article revealed that Warder had been discharged the previous week from the Navy at Great Lakes and had returned home to his wife and son at 207 S. Van Buren St. His parents were still occupying their home at 107 E. Marion Street. Warder’s father Fred, passed away the following year in 1946.
The couple later had a son named Richard L. Stotlar.
Warder became active in the developing recreation activities for youth in Marion and particularly in the youth baseball program. When the Marion Park District was formed in 1957, he soon became an ever present member at meetings representing youth baseball.
Stotlar was President of the Marion Youth Baseball Association in 1962 when Marion Played host to the Little League state tourney here, resulting in much favorable comment on facilities for youths here.
In the spring of 1963 when the new Youth Center was constructed, A.C. Storme credited numerous people including Warder Stotlar.
Warder Stotlar, one of Marion’s leading proponents of youth baseball activities and long a civic leader, died at 1:35 A.M., March 28, 1965 in Marion Memorial Hospital following a heart attack.
Stotlar was stricken while riding home from the baseball registration at the Marion Youth Center with Bill Armstrong shortly after noon Saturday. Upon arrival at the Stotlar home, he was unable to get out of the car and Armstrong drove him to the hospital, together with Fred Stotlar, his son who was visiting here following spring examinations at Northwestern University.
Mrs. Stotlar had alerted the hospital and Stotlar was transported by wheel chair from the car to the emergency ward where oxygen was administered in an attempt to relieve his condition.
Stotlar, 53, who resided at 107 E. Marion Street, was a past president of the Marion Youth Baseball Association, an organization in which he had been active for many years. Stotlar was president of the Stotlar-Herrin Lumber Company, and member of the First Christian Church and Marion Elks Lodge #800.
Survivors included his wife Helen and two sons, Fred W. Stotlar, who was then a student at Northwestern University and Richard L. Stotlar, who was then a student at Indiana University. The latter was a pitcher on the Colt League All-Stars in 1963.
Dr. W.A. Robinson and Rev. Wayne Sheeks officiated at the funeral services Wednesday at 2 P.M. in the Mitchell Funeral Home. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
One of the baseball fields at Fosse Park in Marion was later named Warder Stotlar Memorial Field in honor of his unselfish efforts to establish and maintain the Marion youth baseball program.
Warder’s wife, Helen, passed away in March of 2010.
(Data extracted from the Marion Daily Republican obits and articles; Federal Census Records; Marion Park District minutes; Marion City Directories; Williamson County’s Greatest Generation, Harry Boyd; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/01/2013)