James H Stelling III

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of James Henry Stelling III, 81, of Lake Mary, FL, on December 5th after a recent diagnosis of liver cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. James was born in High Point, NC, raised in Daytona, Beach and graduated from Seabreeze High School in 1960. James was a devout man of faith, loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.. James was strong and principled, a man of unwavering loyalty, powerful in his convictions and supportive of others in many ways. James is predeceased by his parents, James, and Hazel Stelling. He is survived by his loving wife Lorayne; his sister Dorothy; his four children, Susan, Jennifer (Jeff) Buchanan, William, Scott (Kelli); his two stepchildren, Katherine Strickland, and Brian (Maureen) Waldrip; his eleven grandchildren, Brad, Brett, Greg, Nikolas, Cody, Cassidy, Caitlin, Jordan, Myla, Mary Elise, John Martin; and seven great grandchildren. He had an extensive tenure with Bendix Corporation and Chrysler Corporation as an electronic fabrication supervisor on the Saturn and Apollo manned space missions at Cape Canaveral and KSC. Mr. Stelling was formerly President/CEO of a company that was an importing and marketing firm of various electronic items. His 16-year history in the import-export business initially started with breakthrough exportation of Florida citrus products to the Pacific Rim. Mr. Stelling has been a member of the World Trade Center and Korea Economic Cooperation Committee. Mr. Stelling has been an advisor to several Congressmen, three Governors and numerous local office holders across the state of Florida. He was Seminole County Republican State Committeeman from 1984-1996 and served as Chairman of the Seminole County Republican Party from 1996 until 2008. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Republican Party from 1984 until 2010. He was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in 1999 - 2004. He was also the treasurer of the state party for five years and seven-time elected delegate to Republican national conventions. A finance chairman for Governor Martinez, he was the governor's appointee to Coordinating Council for Vocational Education, Adult Education, and Community Instructional Services and to the Florida Lottery Commission. Mr. Stelling was a lead advisor in every campaign for Congressman Bill McCollum, Congressman John Mica and Senator Connie Mack. For Governor Jeb Bush, he served as a regional chairman and on the state finance committees in 1994, 1998 & 2002. On the national- scene, Mr. Stelling had leadership roles in President Reagan's campaign, President George H.W. Bush's campaigns, as well as George W. Bush's successful 2000 and 2004 campaigns. He was an early and key supporter of Governor Mitt Romney in 2008 and 2012. He was a member of the prestigious RNC Republican Eagles and twice visited President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Mr. Stelling is a past president of the Greater Seminole County Chamber of Commerce and formerly on the Board of Directors of the Florida Hospital Foundation. He has numerous national and local recognitions for his civic and political contributions. An avid University of Florida Gator fan and supporter his entire life, Mr. Stelling was elected as an honorary member of Florida Blue Key in 2003. Mr. Stelling, owner of Champion Strategies, LLC is a developer and has been consultant to over 100 fellow developers, builders and land owners and is widely respected as a land entitlement and permitting expert. He has created and completed several very successful residential communities in Central Florida. Additionally, he is a chartered financial consultant, holds a real estate license and formerly held a series 7 securities license. He has also been a registered lobbyist in Tallahassee. He and his wife Lorayne live in northwest Seminole County. He was a softball player most of his adult life, and is an avid hunting and fishing enthusiast. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to liver cancer research or Tree's to Remember to plant a tree in his honor.

James H Stelling III

April 20, 1942 - December 5, 2023