Joe Stone

Joe Lenox Stone, 82, died near Rocky Point on Nov. 21, 2009.

The youngest child of Leona Viola (Lester) and Alfred Lenox Stone, he was born Nov. 14, 1927 in Scotia, Calif., and raised in Coquille.

Following graduation from high school, he began his 26-year career with the Marines.

He married Marion Maxwell in the mid-1950s and the couple made their home on bases worldwide. He served during World War II, the Korean conflict, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, and Vietnam.

Mr. Stone became a pilot during the Vietnam conflict, a skill which served him well after the war. During his military career, he received the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, was awarded the Purple Heart, and was a test pilot.

Following his military career, the family moved to Rocky Point where they owned and operated the Rocky Point Resort for a few years. Mr. Stone studied at Southern Oregon College and later graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology with a degree in gunsmithing.

He was a “can-do” person. He and family built their own home and rebuilt after it was burned to the ground in a structure fire.

Shortly after arriving in Klamath County, he started his own business, “Stone’s Hauling and Excavating.” He also worked 10 years with the state Highway Department at the Lake of the Woods, and was an independent flight instructor, which enhanced his love of flying.

Mr. Stone had an obsession with his 172 Cessna, and enjoyed tweaking it with his friend, Ace Bigby.

He loved the outdoors, and was a proud member of the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed hunting and camping, making guns, and taught gunsmithing classes at OIT.

Many will remember Mr. Stone as a football referee in Klamath County. At one time he was the oldest “White Hat” in Oregon.
Most importantly, he loved his family and many friends.

Mr. Stone is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marion Stone; son Joe Ward Stone of Rocky Point; daughters and sons-in-law Dawn and Pat Severin of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and Valerie and Donald Karsch of Vancouver, Wash.; six grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Osborne Shaw of Sweet Home; and nephews John Bingham, Randy Bingham and Mike Shaw.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leona Viola (Lester) and Alfred Lenox Stone.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Klamath Basin Senior Citizen’s Council, P.O. Box J E, Klamath Falls, OR 97602, or Klamath Humane Society, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.