Stephen Alexander Geney

October 20, 1911 - November 10, 2009

Stephen Alexander Geney went home to be with his Savior on November 10, 2009 at the youthful age of 98. He was born in Nagy Dorog, Hungary on October 20, 1911 and immigrated to the United States at the age of one with his parents, Stephen and Julia Neidert Geney. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and earned a B.S. in Mathematical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. On June 12, 1937, he married Martha Wyllie Geney, whom he cherished for more than 72 years. The couple lived in Belvidere, River Edge and Haworth, New Jersey and raised their family there: Richard, Virginia and Nancy. Stephen’s career took him through engineering positions with Kingsbury Machine Works of PA, Ingersoll Rand Company of NJ, Sperry Rand of NY, Watson Elevator of NJ, Bendix Corporation of NJ, and eventually saw him as an owner of the American Air Compressor Company of North Bergen, NJ. Through the years, Stephen’s life epitomized the story of how a strong work ethic, meaningful faith in God and exemplary moral character were the only assets needed to transform an immigrant of little means into a successful business and community leader. Stephen’s character and leadership were also apparent in his service to Burholme Baptist Church of Philadelphia, PA, First Baptist Church of Hackensack, NJ, and Ocean County Evangelical Free Church of Lakehurst, NJ, where he sang in the choir, played coronet and served as deacon, trustee and treasurer. Anyone who met Stephen Geney knew he was a man who loved God and loved his family. He will be remembered with great love and respect by his wife Martha Geney; son Richard Geney and wife Carol; daughter Virginia Harman and husband Christopher; sister Ethel Walters; sister Elizabeth Wilson; sister Esther Cholerton; granddaughter Suzanne McIntyre; grandson David Geney and wife Teri; granddaughter Kristin Clary and husband Phillip; granddaughter Julie Dovan and husband Wayne; grandson Christopher Harman and wife Rebecca; grandson Jason Harman and wife Heidi; grandson Adam Harman and wife Erin; and 16 adoring great-grandchildren. Stephen was predeceased by his parents, Stephen and Julia Geney; his daughter, Nancy Martha Geney; his sister Julia Lightcap and his sister Margaret Metzger. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00pm on Friday November 13, 2009 at Gardner Funeral Home in Floyd, Virginia by Pastor Robert Blackwell. Interment will follow at the Jacksonville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12 until 1 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to two youth ministries which Stephen supported: Brookwoods & Deer Run Christian Camps, 34 Camp Brookwoods Rd, Alton, NH 03809 and Young Life of Northern Vermont, PO Box 2271, S. Burlington, VT 05407. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.gardnerfuneralhomefloyd.com