Glendal E. Stone

Glendal Eugene Stone passed away peacefully on May 4 at age 86 in Cumming, Georgia, having served God, his family, and his faith community in Forsyth County his entire life.

Glendal was born on March 18, 1939, the third of six children born to Eugene and Grace (Brannon) Stone. The fourth generation of Stones to reside in Forsyth County, he grew up in a farm family, learning the values of hard work and church every Sunday. Gardening, cutting grass, working with cattle, and driving tractors became second nature to Glendal, and were all pursuits he enjoyed throughout his life. He was baptized at Shiloh Methodist Church and graduated with the first class of Forsyth County High School in 1956, when the city’s entire population numbered less than 1,500.

Glendal married Ellen Diane Johnson on September 9, 1961, and five months later was drafted into the United States Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, and military police school in Augusta, Georgia, before serving at the Army's Babenhausen Kaserne in Germany. Guarding the 41st Field Artillery Brigade and 1st Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, Glendal took great pride in securing the base’s gate, even while humbly claiming he “didn’t excel at much in the Army.” He and Ellen lived off-base and welcomed their oldest son, Stanley, in 1963. Glendal was honorably discharged in February 1964.

He returned to Georgia and his job at Coca-Cola Bottling Company, where he worked in the plant before earning his own delivery route for the next 20 years. He and Ellen greeted daughter Paula in 1964 and son Jasper in 1976. In 1978, the family joined Concord Baptist Church in Cumming, which Glendal served as a deacon and active member for the next 47 years. He delivered Frito Lay chips for 20 years before retiring.

Glendal’s greatest joys in retirement were spending time with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Gramps,” and with Ellen at their farm in Bowman, Georgia. He also hunted and square-danced as long as his body allowed, restored his beloved ’55 Chevy with son Stan, and shared his woodworking talents through gifts of handmade furniture and works of art. A dependable friend to many around Cumming, Glendal also treasured his Army friends, the Sloans from Texas and Velures from North Dakota, and made fond memories together while visiting each other and traveling together the rest of their lives. To the end of his earthly life, Glendal was known for offering the most thoughtful prayers and warmest hugs.

Glendal is survived by Ellen, his loving wife of nearly 64 years; son Stanley of Hendersonville, NC (with sons Jon, Jordan and Ben Stone); daughter Paula Poss of Cumming, GA (with husband Gary, daughters Kristina and Alysa); son Jasper Stone of Navarre, FL (with wife Erica, children Joshua Fisher, Isabella and Liliana Stone); and

siblings Michael Stone, Bobbie Richards, and Phyllis Samples, all of Cumming. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jimmy Stone, and sister Carolyn McGinnis.

Visitation with Glendal’s family will be on Wednesday, May 7, from 5-9 pm, and Thursday, May 8, from noon-2 pm at Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming. A service celebrating Glendal’s life will be at 2pm on May 8 at Ingram Funeral home, followed by a graveside service at Sawnee View Gardens in Cumming.