John William Stone

John William Stone, 95, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

John was born in Pittsburg, Kansas 2/14/1922, to Emery Darwin and Elinor Klenn Stone.

John grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Southwest High School and Kansas City Missouri Junior College. He then attended Kansas University where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

As a senior in the Business School, he was drafted into the Army to serve in WWII. John married Verlee Reece of Scandia, Kansas, his college sweetheart, July 31, 1943. They lived happily for 67 years, until her death September 2, 2010. Dr. Stone attended the University of Nebraska and received a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1948. He also received a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University Law School in 1973. From 1948 to 1951 he practiced dentistry in Atchison, Kansas. In 1951 and 1952 he served, as a 1st lieutenant, with the 1st Marine division in Korea. In 1952, the family moved to Topeka, where Dr. Stone practiced general dentistry until his retirement in 1986. John was president of the Kansas Dental Association and a member of the Kansas State Board of Health, Kansas Bar Association, Fellow of the American College of Dentistry and Fellow of the Royal Society of Health (London). He also served on the Board of Directors of the Western Fuel and Supply Company, Shawnee Country Club, Salvation Army, Topeka Country Club and had membership in Junior and Senior Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Organizations and The Arab Shrine. John also acted as a Medical/Dental lobbyist for many years.

He and Verlee were members of the Westminster Presbyterian church. In addition to his numerous academic and professional accomplishments, John was a good golfer, instrument rated pilot and accomplished cook. He was a loving, generous father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His humor and wit were legendary. In his later life, "PaPa you can't say that in public", was commonly said by his family.

Dr. Stone is survived by three of his children and their spouses. Dr. John S. Stone (Judy) of Topeka, Lizabeth Huston (Tim) of Overland Park, Kansas, and David W. Stone (D'Wayn) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; as well as nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Verlee, daughter Kathy and his brother Klenn. John felt "I lived a good life, with a maximum of luck, did little harm and was pleased to have been here".

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, at Mount Hope Chapel, there will be a visitation from 1-2pm, followed by a memorial service, burial and reception. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Red Cross to assist those affected by Hurricane Harvey and sent in care of Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, KS 66610.

To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.