Peter Nicholas Stankosky Jr. 1927-2015
Pete was born Nov. 10, 1927, in Jessup, Pa., to Anna Motil and Peter Stankosky Sr. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1945-1948 aboard the destroyers USS Keith (DE-241) and USS De Haven (DD-727) attaining the rank of storekeeper third class (SK3). Pete boarded the De Haven just after the Japanese surrender. During his service, the De Haven patrolled the Western Pacific off the coasts of China and Japan and later the western coast of the United States. In May 2014, Pete was honored to participate in a trip to Washington, D.C., hosted by Honor Flight DFW to view the World War II Memorial and other monuments. After completing military service, Pete followed a shipmate to Texas in search of a warmer climate. He attended the University of Texas and graduated in 1955 with a BS in business administration. While studying at UT, Pete worked as a server in the Andrews Dormitory where he met Nancy Moses. Pete and Nancy married Dec. 4, 1955, at St. Mary's Church in Bryan and lived in Austin. After having two children, the family moved to Arlington in 1968. Pete enjoyed a long career in pharmaceutical sales at Sanofi and predecessor companies Breon and Winthrop, earning many salesmanship awards. Pete spent most of his adult life serving the Boy Scouts of America. He helped 16 young men attain Eagle Scout honors, including son Jim, while serving as scoutmaster of Longhorn Council Troop 225. He traveled nationwide supporting Order of the Arrow activities in various roles as a leader, advisor and staff member, including treks to Worth Ranch and Philmont Scout Ranch. Pete continued to support local scouting activities as a counselor, committee member and cook. He received many awards for his service, including the Cross Timbers District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver award, and James E. West Fellowship award. Pete later became an active member of the Clan De Los Brazos De Dios supporting scouting programs at Worth Ranch Scout Camp, maintaining the facilities and cooking many meals for young men participating in scouting activities. As a devoted husband, Pete worked to support Nancy's volunteer efforts as treasurer of Arlington Charities and picked up "day old" goodies from Starbucks that were donated to the hungry. He gathered used books and brought his "famous" stuffed cabbage to keep Nancy's American Association of University Women cohorts going during their annual book fairs. Pete was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington where he leveraged his experience in sales to push pancake breakfast tickets onto every friend, relative, neighbor and stranger he met. Pete was preceded in death by Nancy Moses Stankosky, the love of his life and wife of 58 years. Survivors: Son, James Stankosky of Arlington; daughter, Laura Stankosky and husband, Charlie Howell, of Dallas; nieces; nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews; and a host of longtime friends. |
Peter Nicholas Stankosky Jr., 87, passed away Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Arlington. Funeral: 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Arlington. Father Michael Ciski, T.O.R., will be the celebrant for the Funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral service. Inurnment with military honors: Line up prior to 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lane A. Visitation: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, with rosary 7:30 to 8 p.m. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church; Arlington Charities, Attention: Melanie Gibson; or the USS De Haven Sailors Association Scholarship Fund.