Ernest Stone Jr.

Ernest R. Stone Jr. LINCOLN, Calif. - Ernest R. "Ernie" Stone Jr., 73, a retired Navy chief warrant officer and a co-founder of AMSEC, LLC, a full service supplier to the Navy and commercial maritime industry, died Aug. 24, 2008, of a heart attack. Ernie was an avid adventurer, accomplished in sailing, flying, snow and water skiing and flight instruction. He also worked avidly in his garden, specializing in fruit trees and roses. He loved to travel the world, and lived in the Philippines, Italy, Virginia Beach, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Highland Beach, Fla., and Northern California. During his naval career of 25 years, he served on USS Wisconsin BB-64, USS Columbus CA 74, USS Little Rock CLG 4, USS Vulcan AR 5 and was part of the pre-commissioning team for the USS Virginia CGN 38 in 1976. Ernie was born in Belding, Mich., the son of Ernest Stone and Angie Hardin-Stone. He attended the University of Michigan but joined the Navy in 1953 before graduating. He attended numerous training programs in the Navy and specialized in electrical and systems engineering. His first overseas assignment was as a radar communications specialist stationed in the Philippines. He married Sandra Lynn "Sandy" Meyer in 1959, in Orinda, Calif. After retiring from the Navy in 1977, CWO-4 Stone co-founded AMSEC LLC with several other naval officers and was involved in developing ship communication and control systems with the Atlantic fleet. Ernie retired from AMSEC in 1989 to pursue his passions of sailing, flying and traveling. Ernie and Sandy spent five years on their beloved sloop "Chardonnay" in St. Thomas, U.S. Virginia Islands. After hurricane Marilyn devastated St. Thomas in 1995, Ernie and Sandy moved to Florida. Most recently, the couple had been living in Lincoln, Calif. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Sandy; his god daughter, Sloan Baldwin of Huntsville, Ala.;, his extended in-law family of Keith and Lindsay Meyer of San Jose, Calif., Richard and Diane Meyer of Mandeville, La., and Dennis and Dorothy Meyer of Buckeye, Ariz.; four nieces; his cousin, Lamar Hardin of Dalton, Ga.; and many friends across the United States.