STEPHEN STONE

STEPHEN ALLEN STONE

March 21, 1945 – May 25, 2024

Stephen Allen Stone was born in South Bend, Indiana on March 21, 1945. He and his parents and baby sister moved to the suburbs of New York City when he was 5 years old. His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, took him home to Heaven on May 25, 2024, on his 56th wedding anniversary.

Stephen and a college roommate came out to Ojai, California on the "real" Route 66 for summer jobs in 1965. While there, he met an 18-year-old girl named Carol Bintz who later became his wife on May 25, 1968. He is survived by his wife, Carol, his son, Matthew and his wife Joanna, their children Hayden and Halle, his son, Peter, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Pauline Stone, his father, Millard Stone, and his sister, Paula Stone Green.

Stephen served four years in the United States Air Force as an air traffic controller. He had a tour of duty in Viet Nam at Nakhon Phanom. He left for that tour the day his first son, Matthew, turned 3 weeks old.

Stephen graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in business administration. He had a career in banking extending from his college graduation to the present. He was very active in the Hanford business community from 1975 until the present, working at his position as a loan administrator at Kings County Development Corporation until the day before he passed. He was the president of Valley Federal Savings for many years and served as the president of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce in the mid-eighties. He, also, was active in the Hanford Rotary Club, holding various offices throughout the years. He was active in Lemoore Little League and coached baseball for 12 years. He was so happy to be able to coach Matthew and, then, Peter in T-ball, Minors, and Majors. In recent years, he found himself, occasionally, running into a guy with a beard and grandchildren who would say, "Hi, Coach! Remember me?"

Above all, Stephen was known as a Family Man. He loved his family and devoted all of his time making sure that they were happy and well-cared for. When he was a young man, he loved to play golf; but, after his sons were born, he gave it up because he believed it took too much time away from Matthew and Peter. His "free" time was spent with the boys and Carol. She was a teacher, and Stephen helped her with many school activities. Her students knew him as well as they knew her! Stephen loved animals and took great care of all of the family pets and had a heart for rescue animals. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren, Hayden and Halle. They brought him a joy he was afraid would be gone when his own boys grew up. Not so. He has memories watching old movies, swimming in the pool, and staying at the beach with Halle and Hayden just like the memories with Matthew and Peter. He lead a full life and enjoyed every minute of it. He was a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and watched those old black and white movies whenever he could. His services will be at the Nazarene Church on D Street in Lemoore on Monday, June 10, at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations to Kings SPCA or the ASPCA would be appreciated.