Mr. Michael Robert Stalnaker, 52, of Columbia, SC, died Sunday, November 15, 2015. Born in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 1963, he was the son of Eleanor Perez Stalnaker and the late Robert Gordon Stalnaker. Michael was a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, and was employed with Queen Communications, LLC as Operations Manager for fifteen years. He was a generous and kindhearted soul who always thought of others before himself. Michael was a true renaissance man; a gardener, self-taught artist, and gourmet cook who enjoyed sharing what he knew with others. Recently, he began running marathons, and this year finished the Ray Tanner 12K Run, placing 170th out of approximately 1,500 runners.

Michael is survived by his mother, Eleanor Perez Stalnaker of Wesley Chapel, FL; sisters, Lynn S. Worley (Ken) of Long Beach, MS, Ann M. Stalnaker of Cardington, OH, and Joan S. Waldroup (David) of Biloxi, MS; best friend, Michael D. Hughes of Columbia, SC; and by numerous other relatives and friends.

A funeral service for Mr. Stalnaker will be held at 10 AM, Wednesday, November 18th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Rd. Chapel, with Deacon David Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Tuesday evening from 5 until 7 PM. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of South Carolina, 4124 Clemson Blvd., Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621; the AIDS Benefit Foundation of South Carolina, PO Box 2403, Columbia, SC 29202; or to the Brain Injury Association of America, PO Box 7416, Merrifield, VA 22116-7416.