Notes for: Wesley Bellis Bodine, Sr.

Brian D. Bodine said that he met Wesley at Sandy Ridge Cemetery and they talked about genealogy. Wesley has records that go back to France.

Here is some information from the Internet that I think applies to this Wesley Bodine:

Bodine Farm Receives the New Jersey Agricultural Society's Century Farm Award

Wesley and Dee Bodine from Stockton were recently honored with the New Jersey Agricultural Society's Century Farm Award. This award is presented to a family whose farm has remained in that family for 100 years or more. The presentation took place at the Society's annual dinner at Forsgate Country Club in Jamesburg. Wesley Bodine operates Bodine Farm, located on Sergeantsville Road in Stockton. Wesley raises grain, hay and beef on approximately 650 acres.

The history of the Bodine Farm began when Benjamin Bodine cleared the 96-acre tract of land his father had purchased for him in 1843. Originally a dairy farm, Benjamin also raised some vegetables, pigs, chickens and peaches both commercially and for his own use. In 1996, 200 acres of the farm were preserved under the Farmland Preservation program.

Note from Dave: Benjamin's father died in 1801; so he wouldn't have been able to buy Benjamin that land in 1843; however, maybe he had bought it earlier and it later came into Benjamin's hands. Or, maybe I'm confused about who exactly did what here.

From Ronny Bodine (Sept. 24, 2023):

1st marriage--1957--SYLVIA ANNE KNOSTER.
From Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser (Trenton, N.J.) of Sunday, 19 May 1957.
Of interest to Stockton residents is the wedding yesterday of Miss Sylvia Anne Knoster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Knoster of R. D. Stockton, to Wesley Bellis Bodine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Bodine, also of R. D. Stockton. The Rev. Barton Leach and Dr. Clyde Henry performed the ceremony in the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton. Best man for the bridegroom was his brother, Prall Bodine.

Sylvia (Knoster) Bodine is the daughter of Edward William and Irene (Dilts) Knoster. Wesley and Sylvia Bodine divorced and Sylvia married Timothy E. Rea.


2nd marriage--1989--ELAINE L. STARKEY.
From New Jersey Marriage Records:
Wesley B. Bodine AND Elaine L. Starkey were married 22 April 1989 in Delaware Twp., Hunterdon County.

Garefino Funeral Home Inc, Lambertville, NJ.
Elaine L. Bodine Sep 14, 1942 - Sep 12, 2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Elaine L Bodine of Stockton, New Jersey, born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, who passed away on September 12, 2023, at the age of 80, leaving to mourn family and friends. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. She was predeceased by : her parents, Charles Starkey and Jane Gwinner Starkey; her former spouses, Evelio Benitez and Welsey Bodine; her son Robert Benitez; and her siblings, Chuck Starkey and Betty Jane Lanius. She is survived by : her children, Delphin Benitez, Ronald Benitez and Sheri Benitez; her sister Joann Benitez; her grandson Shane Benitez (Brooke); her great grandchild Conner; her grandchildren, Owen, Dana Castonguay, Kiya Castonguay and Kendra Benitez Losch (Kevin); her great grandchildren, Caden, Cameron and Harper Louise; her grandson Jason; her grandchild-in-law Nemec (Lisa); her great grandchildren, Colton and Knox; her husband Brad; her daughter Madeline (Jeff Carman); her daughter-in-law Trish; her grandchild Delaney; and her step-children, Wesley Bodine, Mark Bodine and Nyla Yannarella. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 7th 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Sandy Ridge Church (47 Sandy Ridge Rd, Stockton, NJ 08559). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sandy Ridge Church, 47 Sandy Ridge Rd. Stockton, NJ 08559 .


Obituary, The Home News Tribune (East Brunswick, NJ) of 6 June 2008
STOCKTON--Wesley B. Bodine, Sr., age 75, of Stockton, died on Wednesday (June 4, 2008) in Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township. Born in Trenton, Oct. 5, 1932, he was the son of the late Frank and Elizabeth Prall Bodine. He was a lifelong farmer in Delaware Township, who loved his farm and his family. A member and deacon of Sandy Ridge Community Church, Delaware Township, he also played in the church softball and dart leagues. A brother, Prall Bodine, died in 1996. Surviving are his wife, Elaine "Dee" Starkey Bodine; two sons, Wesley Bodine, Jr. and Mark Bodine, both of Delaware Township; a daughter and son-in-law, Nyla and Daniel Yannarella of Doylestown, Pa.; four grandchildren, Jennifer Bodine, Dana Yannarella, David Bodine, and Daniel Yannarella; and a great-grandson, Anthony Trofe. He is also survived by his wife's children, Ronald Benitez and his wife, Debbie, Delfin Benitez, and Sheri Castonquay, and his wife's five grandchildren, Jason Nemec, Kendra Benitez, Shane Benitez, Owen and Dana Castonquay. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Sandy Ridge Community Church, 47 Sandy Ridge Road, Delaware Township, under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Flemington. Interment will be in Sandy Ridge Cemetery, Delaware Township. There will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the church, 47 Sandy Ridge Road, Stockton, NJ 08559. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information, or to send condolences.

Burials in Sandy Ridge Cemetery, Sandy Ridge, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
(For grave marker photo see Find A Grave Memorial No. 83385030)
Wesley B. Bodine Oct. 5, 1932 + June 4, 2008 Our Beloved Father Who Farmed God's Land is Home with the Lord