They’ll still be at work in the Warren County Property Valuation Administrator’s office for another week or so, but Betty Stahl and Reba Duvall said farewell to friends, family, colleagues and customers at a reception Friday afternoon in the Warren County Courthouse.

Both are retiring on Dec. 31 after years dealing with property assessments, land maps, house and car sales – 24 years for Duvall, and 45 for Stahl.

“It’s been wonderful, and I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve been here,” Stahl said.

Both said they’ve seen many changes to the tax-assessing process, which have improved keeping and finding records – from handwritten tax rolls and the first reproducible property maps to online record searches and satellite maps of Warren County property.

“It has been a job that I have thoroughly enjoyed,” said Duvall, director of real property.

She started working with maps and moved to property assessment, and said the PVA’s records hold huge amounts of valuable information – including more local history than most people realize. She hadn’t planned to retire for another year, but changes in the state pension plan made it more attractive to retire now.

Stahl said she feels like she could work another decade, but likewise is stepping down because of pension changes.

“I could have retired a long time ago,” she said. “I just didn’t want to. I’m going to miss everybody, because they’ve been so nice.”

Stahl said she’s worked for half a dozen PVAs, starting with her father-in-law, Raymond Stahl, who served five terms. Her husband, Harold Stahl, filled the unexpired portion of a PVA term and held several other county positions – the Stahl family has long been active in Warren County politics, she said.

Stahl’s first task was taking inventory of safety deposit boxes owned by the deceased. When the state eliminated that requirement, she moved into the office that assesses vehicle values and records sales.

Current PVA Bob Branstetter said Duvall and Stahl have helped him tremendously in his first two years in office, as well as becoming his friends.

“We’re definitely going to miss them,” he said.

Among many others at their retirement reception was Bill Carter, PVA for 21 years. Stahl and Duvall were valued employees, he said, excelling at aiding taxpayers and adapting well to new technology.

“They were the most dependable people that you could ever hope to have working for you,” he said.

Stahl that she’s always loved to work – and to help people.

“I’ve always said, my church and family come first, my work comes next,” she said. “And I’ve been fortunate enough to do all three.”