Today is my mother-in-law Janet Lucille Turner Stamps’ birthday! She was born on May 3, 1924 in Orwell, NY to Frank E. and Ethel Turner Dawley.
Janet graduated from Oswego College and subsequently taught in several schools in New York State, including on Long Island and in Williamstown and Camden, NY. She spent the majority of her school career teaching first grade in the Camden Central School District. Although she retired in the 1980’s, there are still many former students who claim her as “the best teacher I ever had.”
While working in a Long Island school district, Janet met Stanton Jobson Stamps, a young Texan who served in the Navy alongside her brother, Robert. At war’s end Janet was still on Long Island and was one of the many young women jubilantly celebrating V-E day and kissing servicemen on Times Square.
Janet and Stanton married on June 22, 1946 in Altmar, NY. Their descendants include four sons, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Janet and Stanton lived most of their married life in Williamstown, NY where, in 1991, they were named Senior Citizens of the Year.
Janet died in Rome, NY on September 21, 2007. She is buried alongside Stanton in Williamstown’s Fairview Cemetery.