Martha Munford Stone

1934 - 2008

Martha Munford "Marty" Stone, 73, of Fort Worth, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, after a lengthy illness. Her sweet, yet tenacious spirit was evident until the very end, despite the blood disease that ravaged her body and mind.
Burial: A private interment will be held in Rockford, Ill.
Memorials: may be made to any of the Tarrant County United Way partner agencies, the Tarrant County Humane Society, Rockford College, Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center or a charity of choice.
Marty was born in Kansas City, Mo., on July 1, 1934, to the late Clifton and Ruth Munford. She attended Rockford College in Rockford, Ill., where she majored in drama and English literature and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated summa cum laude June 11, 1956, and married Thomas F. Stone of Rockford the same day. Tom and Marty made their home in Rockford for the first 13 years of their marriage, during which time they had two children, and the family moved to Fort Worth in 1969. Marty was employed at the Fort Worth State School as the director of volunteer services from 1976 to 1980, and she obtained a master's degree from TCU in 1980. From 1980 until her retirement in 1995, Marty was employed by the United Way of Tarrant County, where she served in several positions, including vice president of community services. Marty's many civic and volunteer activities included Leadership Fort Worth, Tarrant County League of Women Voters (including serving as coordinator and host of the weekly television program "Voters Digest"), city of Fort Worth Sector Planning Committee and Tarrant County College-Northeast Senior Education Experience. Marty had many interests, but she especially loved traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Marty excelled at every endeavor she undertook, but her children are particularly proud of her courage and perseverance after the sudden death of her husband when Marty was only 42. She assumed the role of sole provider for the family with strength and grace, and both children went on to obtain college and law school educations thanks to the emotional support and financial security Marty provided them following the loss of their father.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center and Providence Hospice in Waco for their loving and tender care of Marty during her illness.
Marty was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Stone, in 1977; her brother, Bernard Munford, in 1982; and her sister, Shirley Sortor, in 2002.
Survivors: Her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth "Beth" and Gary Miller of Waco; her son and daughter-in-law, David and Susan Stone of Southlake; grandchildren, Thomas and David Miller and Hannah, Jack and Amy Stone; and nieces, Carolyn Sortor, Robin Lofquist and Debra Elser.