Gosh, Bette Stalnecker is still alive... and obviously well

[Mark]

Some of you may recall my mention of this legendary family of traveling singers from Florida in an earlier ("Big Hair for Jesus") thread.

The classically-trained Bette Stalnecker began her career as R.G. Lee's main soloist at Bellevue in Memphis. She then began to sing for countless state and national convention gatherings. Later on, The Stalnecker Open House became a tradition for at least two decades during the SBC's annual meeting. After each evening session, the main convention hotel would feature a parade of music evangelists in a nightclub-type atmosphere. As a Baptist preacher's kid, my childhood memory bank is full of these images.

Here's a picture from their heydey... http://fbcpic.org/anniversary/1960_1969 ... lletin.jpg ...before they became increasingly "flashy" and out of favor with many former admirers. Some time ago, I recall hearing that Ed Stalnecker had either died, or they were divorced, or both. I hadn't heard anything more about them in years, until...

Lo and behold, I discover that Bette Stalnecker is not only still singing, she's remarried, has apparently returned to Bellevue, has opened a bed-and-breakfast (?) or retreat center (?) or dinner theater (?) or something like that... and is apparently still going strong: http://bettestalnecker.com

[bobfrgsn]

What a trip down memory lane. David Tyson and I were roomates at Memphis State and he was the organist at Lamar Heights BC when Ed Stalnecker was the minister of music. We all used to "hang out" together. David and I were very impressed with ED and Bette ... Thanks for this link. That goes back to 1958/59. I have not heard a word in years and have no idea about Ed. We always thought he had Mafia connections!:)

[Ed Pettibone]

Thanks Mark; The one item mentions her two sons who are ordained Southern Baptist preachers. That would be Rick and Chip. Does any one have any idea where those two are now? Rick is probably around 47 and Chip 42 or 43. The Stalneckers where at our Church in Indianapolis one year in may, probably about 1969 and their two boys where just a little older than My oldest two kids and we took them to the INDY 500 time trials. Also I helped Ed find all the pawn shops in Indianapolis, where he searched for buys on sound equipment. I also went with him to visit some folk on the churches prospect list. He gave coppies of Bette's recordings to some of the shut in folk. The boys where a very active part of the ministry and Chip, the yougest wrote some of their music. In those days, Ed and Betty Drove a Cadillac Eldarado and pulled an Airstream Land Yacht Travel trailer. Once Avion made him an offer that he accepted but after a year or two he went back to Airstream. The Tyson's who played piano and Organ for them, drove a Mercury Montclair Station Wagon and pulled a slightly smaller trailer. When Rick turned 14 he could get a Louisiana drivers licence and so he and chip had a Mercedes sports car that they used to Pull an Airstream Bambi. Remember in those days gas was only 30-32 cents a gallon.
Later Ed personally with the help of Bette and the boys converted a used Greyhound bus into a motor home. Some time later they bought a commercially built unit.

I had one of Bette's Records and I wore it out. It was one of those big old 33 and a third rpm's It was Bette Stalnecker and The London Philharmonic , my favorite cut was Roll - Jordan -Roll.

When some folk criticized the luxury of their cars and having the best of Travel trailers, Ed was quick to remind that they where on the road 48 to 50 weeks a year. And He figured they had less tied up in their rolling stock that the folks who complained the loudest had in their homes. He often said "there are hunderds of evangelist preaching to the down and out, our ministry is also for the up and out." ( Perhaps this ties in with Bob Fergesons last comment) Another of their "Luxuries was a huge Great Dane that traveled with them. Kids in the churches loved to have thir picture taken with that dog.

I have driven as much as a hundred miles to hear the Stalneckers, a couple times.

[Mark]

So (for Bob F) : What ever happened to the Tysons? I had no luck when searching for their names.

As to the brothers Chip and Rick S (for Ed P): I have no idea where they are today. Several years ago, the entire family was based in Florida. As to the Stalnecker mode of transportation in those days, I found another interesting reference on a church history page which can be read here, by scrolling down to 1978: http://www.muldraughhill.org/ChurchHist ... -1984.html

Or here, if you want to read only the relevant excerpt:

"During the week of June 23-July 2, 1978, The Stalneckers conducted revival services here with their music, preaching, and activities for the youth. They traveled in a bus which furnished their living quarters. The group included Ed and Bette Stalnecker, their 2 sons and wives, and 1 grandchi1d. At that time, they had traveled to over 600 Southern Baptist Churches from First Baptist Church in Key West, Fla. to First Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska... A special called business meeting was held on July 2, 1978 in which the church decided to purchase the organ (which we now use) from the Stalneckers at a cost of $2600.00..."

[Ed Pettibone]

So (for Bob F) : What ever happened to the Tysons? I had no luck when searching for their names.

As to the brothers Chip and Rick S (for Ed P): I have no idea where they are today. Several years ago, the entire family was based in Florida. As to the Stalnecker mode of transportation in those days, I found another interesting reference on a church history page which can be read here, by scrolling down to 1978: http://www.muldraughhill.org/ChurchHist ... -1984.html

Or here, if you want to read only the relevant excerpt:

"During the week of June 23-July 2, 1978, The Stalneckers conducted revival services here with their music, preaching, and activities for the youth. They traveled in a bus which furnished their living quarters. The group included Ed and Bette Stalnecker, their 2 sons and wives, and 1 grandchi1d. At that time, they had traveled to over 600 Southern Baptist Churches from First Baptist Church in Key West, Fla. to First Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska... A special called business meeting was held on July 2, 1978 in which the church decided to purchase the organ (which we now use) from the Stalneckers at a cost of $2600.00..."

ED: Yes Mark, note that I mentioned

Later, Ed personally with the help of Bette and the boys converted a used Greyhound bus into a motor home. Some time later they bought a commercially built unit.

That copy you show gives something of a mistaken impression, there was not a time when all 7 lived and travled in that bus on a regular basis. When Ed and Bette bought the commercialy built Motorhome the boys took over the bus when one of them got married he went back to pulling a trailer. As to that organ that they sold to the Kentucky church, if I where a betting man I would bet Ed S., knew where he was going to get the replacement, for less cash or a better insturment for about the same money. And I would almost bet that figure should be $2,600.00

[Ray]

Boy! Is that a voice from the past! Ed, you and I went to the same church in Indianapolis! Gosh, how I remember the Stalneckers. Bette in her fur and evening gown on Saturday night, singing Scarlet Ribbons and her eyes filling with tears and her false eye lash coming loose. Rick was driving a red Mercedes coupe, Chip was all chubby. I remember how they ran up a huge long distance phone bill that the church was not expecting at all....the tour through their Airstream trailer, times sure have changed!!!
All those memories. And from what I understand that church EHBC as well as others really hasn't grown that much in the past 30 years.
Thanks, Mark, for those links! Those were fun to look at.....just makes me feel old, now!

[Ed Pettibone]

Boy! Is that a voice from the past! Ed, you and I went to the same church in Indianapolis! Gosh, how I remember the Stalneckers. Bette in her fur and evening gown on Saturday night, singing Scarlet Ribbons and her eyes filling with tears and her false eye lash coming loose. Rick was driving a red Mercedes coupe, Chip was all chubby. I remember how they ran up a huge long distance phone bill that the church was not expecting at all....the tour through their Airstream trailer, times sure have changed!!!
All those memories. And from what I understand that church EHBC as well as others really hasn't grown that much in the past 30 years.
Thanks, Mark, for those links! Those were fun to look at.....just makes me feel old, now!

Ed: You have it down well. And Ed S. Gave a bicycle to the kid who had brought the most frinds with them during the week. But I am going nuts trying to recall the name of their Great Dane. It is a small world, in the the first half of the 90s I was in a church in Florida (FBCFM) with Roy Peyton and his wife. Do you have any Idea if J.P. Brewer is still alive and BTW didn't he finaly get them (perhaps) you all, to change the name to Sunnyside after I left. Roy and I where on the "Bus Commite" when they got the first one. I took it to the Indianapolis Skills center and had it painted. And then the fellow who Lettered all of trucks for American Van Lines did the lettering. What are we talking about maybe 1968-9 or 70? Where you one of the messenger from EHBC when we went to St Louis for the SBC? I really enjoyed the Stalneckers showcase of talent from around the convention. I just had to order two of Bette's CD's.

[Ray]

Bro. Brewer died several years ago. It is called Sunnyside Road Baptist Church now. My folks went to 40th anniversary a few years ago. I left INDY to go to college back in 73, after graduation moved to Cincy and have lived in DFW for almost 20 years now. EHBC's former pastor, Otha Winningham had the most influence in my Christian walk and call to ministry.
Check this out----
http://www.bizarrerecords.com/pages/ProdigyRickchip.html

[Ed Pettibone]

Bro. Brewer died several years ago. It is called Sunnyside Road Baptist Church now. My folks went to 40th anniversary a few years ago. I left INDY to go to college back in 73, after graduation moved to Cincy and have lived in DFW for almost 20 years now. EHBC's former pastor, Otha Winningham had the most influence in my Christian walk and call to ministry.
Check this out----
http://www.bizarrerecords.com/pages/ProdigyRickchip.html

ED: Thanks for the link, my two oldest kids each had their own copy of that album. Otha was a DOM some where sometime, after he left EHBC was he not? I rember him as a good preacher and a great pastor. We left Indy in 70 for a couple years and when we went back we attended First Southern. I am not surprsed to learn that J.P. died "several years ago", the last I talked with him was in 84-85 just after his wife "Zell" had died. He was pastoring in richmond at that time.

Gee Ray I hope you are going to get to the CBF Assembly in Grapevine at the end of June. We need to try to get together. In fact you may want to join the group of BL.C participants who get to getter for lunch. I promise Mark Ray will not be responsible for it this year. Those who were in B'ham last June will know what I am talking about. I will only be in Grapevine on Thursday and friday as I have to go up to Denver for the last couple days of tne ABC meeting.

[Mark]

I hope you are going to get to the CBF Assembly in Grapevine at the end of June... In fact you may want to join BL.C participants... for lunch. I promise Mark Ray will not be responsible for it this year. Those who were in B'ham last June will know what I am talking about...

Hey, now... I provide you guys with a happy trip down memory lane, only to get slimed...

Memories do fade (thankfully at times), but I seem to recall accepting a generous 30-35% responsibility for our lunch/dinner-related debaucle in Bham. That percentage will decrease yearly, as the story is further retold and embellished.

I'm just glad to know there are people outside the south with such names as "Otha" and "Zell."

Alas, yes, Chip was a bit, well... chubby. All of this has inspired in me a willingness to purchase a barbeque plate for the first person who locates an accurate account of whatever happened to Ed Stalnecker. Maybe he's buried somewhere with Jimmy Hoffa. Meanwhile, thanks to The Very Excellent Ray-With-a-Good-Name (but no known kinship) for another excuse to resurrect BizarreRecords.Com, one of my all-time favorite websites.

[Ed Pettibone]

ED: As I recall Bruce may have had some responcibility but where are you placing the other third".


But then Zell was wife of a SBC "missions pioneer" in the 60's in Indiana, she and J.P. both came from Mississippi but he did go to NOBTS probably just ahead of your dad. They had each developed a love of coffee with chickory, while in N.O.. Otah was also from the south but I do not recall where. I do think he was a SBTS product. Perhaps Ray will correct me if I an wrong

As for getting together, we will probably not have much time to go outside of the Gaylord but they do have a great variety of restaurants if it is, as I understand modeled after the one at Opry Land, just out of Nashville. I do plan to get a Jack Daniels steak while there but I suggest we have our lunchon at one of the less expencive venues.

[Ray]

In the 50's and 60's almost ALL SBC churches were composed of southern Christian transplants who had moved to Indiana. We were a mission church when Otha came to INDY fresh from Southern Seminary.

[Dale]

Thought some of you might be interested in this:

From the Citrus County Chronicle Online (Florida):

Edward Stalnecker, 75 CRYSTAL RIVER

Dr. Edward Irvin Stalnecker, 75, Crystal River, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, in Crystal River.

Born June 7, 1931, in Winter Haven, he was the son of Frederick and Lela (Herndon) Stalnecker. He came here 18 months ago from Marathon.

He graduated from Lake Charles High School, Lake Charles, La., and from Louisiana State University. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Luther Rice Seminary, and traveled the United States and Europe as an evangelist for the Southern Baptist Convention for more than 30 years, holding one-week revivals preaching and singing in more than 1,200 Baptist churches. He won multitudes to Christ, and touched the lives of many.

After retirement, on Easter Sunday 1984, he opened River City Baptist Church of Jacksonville, which grew to a membership of 700 in one year. He started Maritime Ministries, and began a program to take donated automobiles to give to indigent families and battered women. In the past two years, Maritime Ministries has given away about 150 vehicles. He worked with CASA to provide vehicles. He also preached in several local churches that were without a pastor, and he planned to lead the Easter Sunrise Service at Lake Rousseau R.V. Park.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Jean Stalnecker; three children, Randy, Rhonda and Martin; and two grandchildren, Haley and Eric.

Memorials may be given to Maritime Ministries, 431 S.E. Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429.

Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.


The children listed above are his second wife's from previous marriages.

Bette and Ed's sons, Ric (or Rick), http://www.ricsteel.com, and Lauren (formerly Loren, aka "Chip"), http://www.myspace.com/lauren and http://www.laurenvision.com (old site), live in Tennessee. First wife, Bette, the singer (not to be confused with second wife, Betty, listed above), remarried in 2003, lives in Memphis, and is doing well. See http://bettestalnecker.com.

[Chris]

a willingness to purchase a barbeque plate for the first person who locates an accurate account of whatever happened to Ed Stalnecker.

Looks to me like Mark Ray owes Dale a barbeque plate.

[Dale]

Modesty prevented me from asking about that, but thank you. So if the offer's still good... !

[Ray]

I found it interesting that Rick and Chip are not listed as his children. I wonder why Rick found it necessary to change his name to Ric Steel???
I know his given name was Fredrick. I wonder how Bette is doing?

[Dale]

He's still Fredrick "Rick" Stalnecker. "Ric Steel" is a show name. "Stahl" is German for "steel." Loren changed his name to "Lauren" though I'm not sure of the story behind that. The fact they weren't listed in the obituary would have been the decision of Ed's current wife and family. Bette had not been in contact with Ed for several years and did not learn of his death until this week.

Bette is doing very well. She's been happily remarried for over three years to a wonderful man, Jim Gibson, whom she adores, and he treats her like a queen! Jim and his late wife, Harriet, were missionaries to Tanzania for many years and friends of Bette's. Bette and Jim have a ministry in their home where groups come for lunch or dinner and are treated to a program of music and testimony afterwards. Bette still sings in churches around Memphis and elsewhere and teaches voice.

See http://bettestalnecker.com for more information.

[Dale]

The Tysons have lived in southern California for over 30 years and have owned a medical transcription business and work in real estate now. David has suffered some health problems in recent years but hasn't lost his crazy sense of humor!

They have three daughters, the oldest of whom works with her husband in missions, http://www.kingdomflight.org.

Bette's old albums are often available on eBay.

[Mark]

Thanks for the update, Dale. No, I had not heard the news of Ed Stalnecker's passing. Can't believe they listed only his step-kids in the obit. Wow.

Meanwhile - and I wish there was a better segue from the subject of death - Chris sez I owe you some barbeque. (Gee thanks, Chris. )

Because I consider myself to be a person of stellar (steller? stellnecker?) character, I suppose he's right. That is, I'll honor that pledge IF the following conditions and/or logistical concerns are deemed to have been resolved satisfactorily, and barring anything else unforseen:

(1) If the original agreement from 2005 contained no statute of limitations in its fine print. (Or in some other fine print.)

AND...
(2) If you'll be so kind as to identify your location so that I'll know where to mail your sandwich. A post office box is fine. Wait a minute... It was supposed to be a dinner, not just a sandwich, right? Okay, I'll toss in a pickle.

OR...
Better yet, we could meet for barbeque amidst one of the upcoming (or future) Baptist gatherings. An added bonus might be to have other distinguished BL.Com friends join us. It would almost be like returning to those carefree days when friends and loved ones visited, networked, reminisced, and drank soft drinks from the bar while enjoying the latenight music of yet another Stalnecker Showcase...

[Dale]

Very much so!

http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net:80/sbc08/pictures/hiresphoto.asp?ID=21

http://www.sbcevangelist.org/view/474/20660/Hall-of-Faith.html

[Mark]

Very much so!http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net:80/sbc08/pictures/hiresphoto.asp?ID=21

And she still looks good! Thanks for making me aware of this, Dale. My mom will enjoy seeing it.

http://www.sbcevangelist.org/view/474/20660/Hall-of-Faith.html

That link warrants its own new thread....

[Stephen Fox]

Revival evangelist

Who was his organist??

[Dale]

Revival evangelist

Who was his organist??

John Bos?

Then: http://earthakitsch.com/2006/05/wooden-boys-compromise-part-2.htm

Now: http://www.christfortheworld.net/history.asp