In Memoriam: Joseph M. Stover

Joseph M. Stover died Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the age of 62. He was the founder of First Capital Fibers in York, Pennsylvania, which he sold to his son, Joey Stover, when he retired in 2019.

Joseph Stover began his career in the scrap industry in 1978 when he started hauling mufflers and junk with his pickup truck, Jerry T. Kellner of First Capital Fibers tells Recycling Today. In 1988, he purchased his first scrap yard in York, naming it First Capital Recycling. Ten years later, in 1998, Joseph Stover started First Capital Fibers. 

According to the company’s website, First Capital Fibers now operates out of two locations with more than 60,000 square feet of processing and warehousing space combined. It offers scrap management services, including material processing, document and product destruction, plastic recycling, metals recycling and brokerage services.

Joseph Stover was born Oct. 18, 1958, in York to Jane (Peterman) Stover and the late Jesse Stover. 

He had been married to Lisa A. (Herman) Stover since Jan. 10, 2009.

According to his obituary on the Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory Inc. website, he enjoyed golfing and traveling in his RV in his free time.

Kellner says Joseph Stover also enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

"He was known locally and in the industry as being a generous man," Kellner says. "He used his companies to support mission trips, local charities and giving many many employees a second chance and continued enrichment in their lives."

Along with his wife, Lisa, and his son, Joey, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Alli; his daughter, Rebecca Kunkle, and her husband, John; three stepchildren, Brittany Honaker and her husband, Jack, Zachary Herman and his wife, Cassandra, and Steven Herman Jr.; granddaughters, Emily Stover and Hannah Stover; step-grandson, AJ Herman; his sister, Kathy Price, and her husband, Timm; and his half-brother, Bill Stover, and his wife, Carrie.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Randy Stover.