Articles
The Oldest of the Confederate Veterans is Dead
David Stombock, the oldest Confederate veteran of Page county, [Virginia] died at 11:45, p.m., on Monday, May 7, 1928, at his home on Lee Highway, three miles East of Luray, after having been bedfast for more than a year. He had maintained the great age of 92 years, 5 months and 17 days. Mr. Stombock was disabled by burning his feet and while they head after a time, the mishap was the beginning of a decline that ended with his disease. Prior to the accident he was in excellent health for one of such advanced years, and had passed a life practically free from illness.
Mr. Stombock was a farmer all his life, a good manager, a leader in his church and was regarded as one of the outstanding men of his community. He was a familiar figure at Confederate gatherings being the oldest of the veterans, and carrying the honorable scars of two wounds. A shot in the arm at Gettysburg disabled him and he did not participate in the war later. His earlier wound was of less troublesome character. He was a member of Co. H., 33rd Virginia Infantry, which was raised and captained by William Rippetoe. Mr. Stombock served as sergeant in this body.
Surviving Mr. Stombock are the following children: Henry M., and I. E. Stombock and Mrs. Jos. Comer, of Luray, and Mrs. Geo. H. Shenk and G. S., and A. Frank Stombock, of near Kimball. Of these, A. Frank Stombock has always lived with his father. One daughter, Mrs. David Fox, new Kimball, died a few months ago, while his other daughter, Mrs. Mary Ellen Moyer has been deceased twenty-five or thirty years. Mr. Stombock lost his wife in 1911. She was Miss Susan V. Helston, a sister of the late Samuel Helston. They were married in October 1863. Mr. Stombock was born at the old Stombock tanyard near Pumpkin Hill, which was operated in later years by Monroe Sours and is now the home of Jacob Sours. He had one brother, George Stombock deceased, the other children, two boys, having passed away in infancy.
Becoming a member of the Lutheran Church in early life, Mr. Stombock was a loyal and dependable Christian worker. In early life he served as Sunday school superintendent. In later years he was a deacon and trustee. A man of deep religious nature, he was a devout Bible reader all through his life, and strived earnestly to follow the precepts of the Book of Books. He was one who was temperate in all things, eating moderately, barely using tobacco at all, and prolonged his years no doubt, by a life of regulated industry and thrift. He was beloved and venerated among the neighbors who knew him so well. He had lived near Kimball all his life and left a stainless name.
Mr. Stombock's funeral was held at 10, a.m., on Wednesday at Beth-Eden church which he had served long and faithfully in official capacities. The services were conducted by Rev. A. L. Boliek, his pastor, assisted by Rev. C. W. Cassell.
Page News and Courier
Page County, Virginia
Friday, May 11, 1928
More on the War Between the States:
This New Testament Bible was published in New York in 1854 by the American Bible Society. The hand-written inscriptions on the pages inside indicate that this Bible was with its owner as he sat out the final days of the Civil War in a Union prison camp.
Civil War stories from Union Veterans, Illustrated
