Adele R. "Rusty" Stahley, 80 of Stevens Lancaster County, formerly of Schnecksville, died Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at the Denver Nursing Home.

Born in North Whitehall Township on June 10, 1928, Adele was the daughter of the late Wilmer F. and Esther R. (Ritter) Stahley. After graduating from the former South Whitehall High School in 1946, she joined the American Association of Girls Professional Baseball League and signed with the Fort Wayne Daisies team. In 1949, she honorably served in the U.S. Navy Waves until 1954, when she began working at the former Lehigh Aircraft Company at the former Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport where she learned to fly various types of airplanes. By the late 1960's, she was an accomplished commercial pilot, flying charter routes to the mid-west. During the 1970's, she began training to become an air traffic controller and after intensive training with the FAA, she was assigned as the first female air traffic controller at the Philadelphia International Airport. She later was transferred to the North Philadelphia Airport where she taught other air traffic controllers how to guide lost aircraft to "safe harbor". She retired from the FAA position in 1988.

Survivors: Brother, Glenn E. Stahley of Schnecksville; nephews, Ronald E. Stahley, Keith P. Stahley and Randall S. Stahley all of Schnecksville.

Services: Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 5, 2008 in the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., 4906 Route 309, Schnecksville with the Rev. Thomas N. Thomas officiating. Visitation period 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Friday in the funeral home.

Contributions: Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box # 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.