Our Story

Our story begins with the M. E. Stump Hardware and Furniture Company founded in Grantsville WV in 1897 by Martha E. Stump and her son Ira Nelson Stump whose ancestors migrated from Germany years prior.  The company constructed, among other items, burial rough boxes and "coffin's".  The boxes and coffins were purchased by families for their loved ones.  They were also shipped to many areas around the state by horse and wagon or by boat from the boat docks once on the Little Kanawha River in Grantsville.  

From the furniture store, the Stump Funeral Home was formally established by Ira Nelson Stump.  It is one of only two local businesses from that era still operational today in the area.  

Ira N. Stump had many community interests in his lifetime in addition to the furniture store and funeral home.  He was instrumental in the development and construction of the Calhoun County Court House, still in active use today in Grantsville.  Passionate about his community, he was a former member of the Grantsville Town Council.  He was a member of the Grantsville Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 212 as was his son Ira C. Stump and of which John S. Stump is also a member.

In the mid 1920's the family began the Stump Ambulance Service servicing Calhoun and surrounding counties.  This was the only ambulance service within the county until new state regulations came into effect in 1975, at which time the service was transferred to the then Calhoun General Hospital in Grantsville.

Now known as Stump Funeral Homes, Inc. our company has been family owned and operated since it began 118 years ago in the back of a small country store.  Directors, John S. Stump, grandson of the late Ira N. Stump and J. Neil Stump, son of John S. Stump carry on family tradition, serving Calhoun and surrounding counties.  John S. Stump began working in the funeral home more than 56 years ago, at the age of 16, with his father, the late Ira Charles "Bunk" Stump, then also an acting funeral director.  

In 1988, to better serve families John S. Stump, with the assistance of his wife, and then office manager, Roanna McKee Stump, opened a second funeral home location, located at 1440 Arnoldsburg Road in Arnoldsburg WV.

In 1998, J. Neil Stump, and his wife Gina R. Cano-Stump, both graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and became licensed directors. They returned to Grantsville to make their home, start their family, and carry on as the 5th generation of funeral directing in the family business.

Our the family remains committed, honored and thankful to provide our services for the end of life care of our friends, family and loved ones in their time of need.   

We’ve gathered together a staff of highly-qualified and deeply caring individuals to assist us in continuing the funeral home’s mission of providing excellence in service to families.   

Whether you have an immediate need for our services or you wish to begin pre-planning a funeral arrangement for you or someone you love, call us. We will be honored to serve you.