Donald Myron Stonestrom

Donald Myron Stonestrom of West Chester Donald Myron Stonestrom of Wellington Hall, West Chester, died peacefully at age 88, on February 29, 2012, with family around him. His parents were the late David Paul and Martha Moen Stonestrom and he was raised in North Dakota. He was a navigator in WWII in the European Theater of Operations with the 9th Troop Carrier Command. He flew 17 combat missions including the pivotal D-Day invasion of Normandy and held the rank of Captain. Following the war, he graduated as a mechanical engineer from the University of North Dakota (1948) and took graduate courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania. He worked for General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y. and then for 34 years in the Explosives Division of Atlas Powder Company which was later acquired by Imperial Chemical Industries Americas. He retired as development director for the Aerospace Division at Valley Forge, responsible for all research and development activities. He was awarded 6 U.S. patents in the field of electro-mechanical-explosive devices and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Defense Preparedness Association. His past civic activities included the Westtown-Thornbury School Board; chairman, Westtown Township Planning Commission; vice-chairman West Chester Area Joint School Authority and Boy Scout counseling. In retirement he was active in the West Chester Rotary Club (president 1999-2000), was a Paul Harris Fellow and was made an Honorary Rotarian last September. He was active in the West Chester United Methodist Church, singing in the choir for many years. He was a member of the Chester County Historical Society, Horseshoe Trail Club, Highpointers Club, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Westtown School Community Chorus. He was also a member of the British Officers Club, Philadelphia chapter. He became an avid runner before the sport was popular and ran daily for almost 25 years. He also became a mountain climber after the age of 40 and ascended the highest points of each of the lower 48 states. He also climbed the Matterhorn and other major mountains in Switzerland and Austria. He hiked the entire Horseshoe Trail in Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife, Barbara James Stonestrom; sons, J. Peter, David A. and Eric D. and their families, which include five grandchildren, Aaron, Anna, David, Tyler, and Atticus; a sister, Dolores Stonestrom Forney; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Drs. A. Dalton James and Kathryn Williams; six nephews and one niece. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the West Chester United Methodist Church , 129 S. High St., West Chester, with visitation and light refreshments after the service. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Rotary Foundation, c/o Rotary Club of West Chester, P.O. Box 743, West Chester, PA 19381-0743 or Neighborhood Hospice, 795 E. Marshall St., Suite 204, West Chester, PA 19380 or West Chester United Methodist Church Music Program, 129 S. High St., West Chester, PA 19382. Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc., West Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.