Lona (Emerson) Stadtlander

Paul Young Funeral Home is assisting the Family

Obituary via Paul Young Funeral Home

Lona was born in Cincinnati to Alice (nee Hall) and George “Poppy” Emerson on October 16, 1926. She was raised in Cincinnati but moved to Washington, D.C. during World War II.  She worked at the Pentagon during the Roosevelt and Truman presidencies. Lona was in Washington when the war ended. Everyone in Washington went out to the streets and partied all night. It was a time she would never forget!

While at the Pentagon, she met President Truman and many Five-Star Generals. After the war, she went back to the Sayler Park area of Cincinnati and married Richard (aka Dick) Stadtlander, shortly after he returned from the Pacific theater of WWII. Dick was called back to the US Army due to the Korean War. Lona found herself once again serving her country, but this time as a military wife. They moved to multiple eastern US Army bases while raising children in a mobile trailer. They later moved back to Cincinnati and built a home in the Deer Park area. Their children attended Deer Park schools. Lona was active as a Girl Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, and more.

Lona loved to travel whenever she could and visited nearly all of the states within the continental US. She was always a faithful Reds fan, stemming back to her childhood. She remembered players and stats going back decades. She also enjoyed watching the Bengals. But more than anything, Lona loved to spend time with her family. Events and family extravaganzas were special favorites of hers. As a talented cook, she always made sure everyone was well fed. 

Lona is the beloved mother of Richard (Kim) Stadtlander, Janet Brayton, Joan (Daniel) Bishop and Debbie (Rick) Applegate; cherished grandmother of Lindsay (Robert) MacRae, Mark (Suzanne) Applegate, the late Erin (Nick) Cherney, Danny Bishop, Josh (Cierra) Motts, Ryan (Glenna) Brayton, Michael (Melissa) Applegate and Rich Stadtlander; treasured great-grandmother of Sloane MacRae, Sylvie MacRae, Ethan Applegate, Audrey Applegate, Nathan Cherney, Elise Cherney, Max Cherney, Olivia Brayton, Ella Applegate, Drew Applegate and Grayson Applegate. She is also survived by many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. Lona is preceded in death by her loving husband Richard Stadtlander; treasured granddaughter Erin Cherney; niece Margie Trimmer; siblings Francis “Honey” Swander, George “GB” Emerson, Barbara “Bobbie” Nimmo, Paul Emerson, Grace Dazier, and Donnie Emerson; and her parents Alice and Poppy Emerson.  A funeral service for Lona will be held at Paul R. Young Funeral Home on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 1 pm. Burial to immediately follow at Arlington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Lona’s name to a charity near and dear to her heart by donating to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.