Service measured not by GOLD,
                           but by the GOLDEN RULE

Service measured not by GOLD,
          but by the GOLDEN RULE

330.262.7771

Wooster – Stuart James Ling, 90, of Wooster, died Monday, March 24, 2008, after a period of declining health.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Terry Wagner Ling, two brothers, Robert T. Ling of Boylston, MA and Charles A. Ling of Garland, TX. Also surviving are daughters, Kristine L. Holt (Richard), Karen L. Aczon, and Katherine L. Olsen (Niels), six grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Roland H. Ling, of Greensboro, NC.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 1 :30 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 127 W. North Street, Wooster. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 28, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mclntire, Davis Greene Funeral
Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster.
He was born to James Ira and Emma Catherine Gill Ling on March 17, 1918 in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from Syracuse University where he earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in Music Education. He was drafted into U. S. Army in 1942, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines for
four years.
He came to Wooster in 1949, where he directed the Scot marching and symphonic bands. In 1951 he was recalled to active duty in Korea for 14 months, during which time he arranged the Are You From Wooster? theme which is used at Scot sporting events to this day. He remained in the Reserves, achieving the rank of full Colonel by his retirement. He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.
Returning to Wooster, he resumed his band responsibilities also teaching music education methods courses and supervising student teachers. He taught courses in jazz and operetta production and served as coordinator of the music therapy program. In addition, he directed the brass choir and the pep band. In 1971, he founded the College of Wooster Jazz Band and in 1976, he took the band on tour for the first time.
During his tenure, Dr. Ling was active in a number of professional music organizations. He served as the president of the Ohio Music Education Association from 1980-1982 and later received OMEA’s Distinguished Service Award. His articles were published in numerous music education journals, and he served as contributing editor to The Instrumentalist Magazine. He wrote more than 300 compositions and arrangements.
He was an avid jazz fan, having played his way (piano and trumpet) through college and graduate school. He played with bands from Wooster. Ashland and Mansfield and led the band, Mem’ries, for many years. He performed with such notables as Ella Fitzgerald, the Mills Brothers, Joe Venuti, Vic Damone, and Glenn Miller .
Dr. Ling supported the Ohio Light Opera from it’s beginning in 1979 and was a pre. performance lecturer for 1986 on to 2005. Li~he and his wife supported and encouraged the Wooster Chamber Music Series from its beginnings in the Wayne Center for the Arts to its move to the College of Wooster .
Dr. Ling loved sports and was a long-time bowler and golfer. He was an avid Cleveland Indians, Browns and Cavaliers fan, and a Wooster Scots fan, being a member of the Rebounders Club from the year after its inception, twice travelling to Salem, V A for the Division III basketball final four to cheer his beloved Fighting Scots.
He was a devout member of St. James Episcopal Church for nearly 60 years. He was organist and choirmaster for 10 years and sang in the choir for 15 years. He served on the vestry , and as lay reader, chalice bearer, lector, lay eucharistic visitor, commttee chairman, thurifer, and lay delegate to Diocesan conventions. He taught the Adult Sunday School class for 10 years.
A celebration of his life and music will be scheduled for later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the College of Wooster with the notation Stuart J. Ling Jazz Award Endowment.

Memorial Contributions
to the College of Wooster for the Stuart J. Ling Jazz Award Endowment., Wooster, OH 44691

Service
Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 1:30 P.M. at St. James Episcopal Church

Visitation
Friday from 4-7:00 P.M. at the funeral home

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.