Iris Elaine (Thorne) Stoll was born at the Thorne farm home near Rymer, West Virginia, on June 23, 1929. She was the first child of Richard Camden Thorne and Zennith Jewell (Bonnell) Thorne. Her only sibling, Richard, was born three years later. Her father was one of fourteen, and her mother was one of six; almost all remained in the community, so Iris had an idyllic childhood surrounded by a large and loving family.

Her early schooling took place in nearby one-room schools. After returning from a year in Camden and Trenton, New Jersey, she finished middle school in Mannington, WV. Always a good student, she graduated from Mannington District High School in 1947. Her dream to teach was achieved when she earned her BA from Fairmount State University. Iris taught in several one-room schools in Marion County, during which she earned her MEd at West Virginia University.

In 1955, Iris moved to Warren, OH to teach in larger city schools. She also taught Sunday school at First Methodist Church, and worked in Warren Little Theatre. In early 1961, a blind date introduced her to Donald R. Stoll of Akron, OH and they were married in Warren on July 29, 1961. A year later, their only child, Mary Beth Stoll, was born in Akron General Hospital.

Don’s business career took them to Akron, Chicago and Philadelphia. Iris taught periodically in each. After moving to their new home in center city Philadelphia, Iris became active in the leadership of a number of the city’s philanthropic institutions. The Auxiliary of Pennsylvania Hospital, Friends of Old Pine, Preservation Society, and The English-Speaking Union were among them. She planned and directed several large fundraising formal balls, and oversaw the resurrection of America’s first opera at historic Walnut Street Theater.

Three years after Don retired (1990), they moved to North Carolina, designed and built a new home on the 7th fairway of Governors Club, Chapel Hill. She golfed briefly until her first grandchild was born in 1995. When he was followed by triplets two years later, Beth’s family relocated to Cary and Iris took on much of their care.

In 2007, Iris and Don bought into the Cypress of Raleigh at its inception. She continued to enjoy theater, symphony, opera, puzzles (jigsaw, crossword, Sudoku), until declining health necessitated moving to Cypress’ Rosewood Health Center in 2019. At the Rosewood, Iris was received with love and respect. The staff has cared for her with compassion and kindness, particularly in her final months. Our family will be eternally grateful to them all. She died peacefully in her sleep at Rosewood on December 13, 2022.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, daughter Mary Beth (Stoll) Toland and husband Paul (Cary, NC), and her four beloved grandchildren, Michael Robert Toland (Cary, NC), Brian Alexander Toland, (Durham, NC) Daniel William Toland (Charlotte, NC), and Kelly Clare Toland (Atlanta, GA). We are grateful for the gift of this beautiful person, and will always love her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC at 2:00 pm.

Services in WV are still being arranged.