Robert Joseph "Bob" Stone Sr.

To his family, he was a hero. To his friends and coworkers, an inspiration. To all who knew him, Bob Stone was love in action.
Robert Joseph "Bob" Stone, Sr., 85, of Carrollton, Georgia, adored husband, father, grandfather, friend, entrepreneur, and community leader, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Stone, affectionately known as "Pop" to many, was born June 29, 1940, in Hapeville, Georgia, to the late William H. Stone, Sr. and Martha Jane Lewis Stone. The budding entrepreneur was raised in Hapeville where he ran a Coca-Cola stand and managed a paper route, all before the age of 12. Bob graduated from Hapeville High School and continued his education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning his bachelor and master's degrees in Industrial Management. A true Yellow Jacket at heart, he credits his alma mater for teaching him to think out of the box to discover creative solutions to everyday and unique challenges. Bob loved a good challenge and saw each challenge as a new opportunity.
Bob's tenacity and desire to always learn and grow successfully guided him in his career starting at Lockheed-Martin as one of the first mainframe computer programmers. For a brief time, his career continued at Southern Railroad before changing careers to what he thought was his calling as a professor at Georgia State University and then West Georgia College. He ultimately found his true calling, founding Systems & Methods, Inc.
Bob was a servant leader who used his faith as a guide throughout his business career, civic involvement, and family. He was known to always have at least one "special project" he would focus on, the most recent projects being the Stone Family Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business at the Richards College of Business at UWG and the County Road 256 Project in Wedowee, Alabama. Other special projects dear to him included University Stadium (UWG), ADAY for West Georgia (founding Co-Chair), Carroll Tomorrow, and numerous special projects at First Methodist Church. Bob was passionate about making the community he lived in the best it could be in the areas of education, industry, and social (civic and faith). This was demonstrated by his involvement in the Carrollton Rotary Club (Past President and Paul Harris Fellow), Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and Carroll Tomorrow (Past President), UWG Foundation Trustee, UWG President's Council, Tanner Medical Foundation, Carrollton High School Band Booster Club (Past President), serving on the board of directors for CB&T, Synovus, and River City Bank, and participating and leading several committees at Carrollton First Methodist Church. In 2002, Bob was named Citizen of the Year by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.
At an early age, Bob gave his heart to Jesus and grew up faithfully attending church. Yet even in his early 70's, he encountered God in a fresh and transformative way.
Bob's greatest treasure of this world was his wife of 65 years, Lititia "Tish" Holt Stone. They met early in their teenage years, married after high school and have been one team since. Together they raised six children, built a successful business, and embraced a love for life that included traveling the world with friends-visiting all seven continents-RV camping across the United States with the "Bus Buddies" and the Camping Group, spending family time on Lake Wedowee, enjoying the Monday Night group, attending any event that involved grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and cheering on his Wolves and Yellow Jackets.
Bob's smile and generous, kind spirit will be greatly missed. His ability to relate to and show respect to everyone he met was truly remarkable, leaving each person feeling valued and appreciated. Bob had a gift for making connections that mattered, and his legacy of kindness and integrity will continue to inspire us all.
Bob was preceded in death by parents, William H. and Martha Lewis Stone; in-laws, Joseph M. and Annie Wright Holt; daughter, Cindy Stone Denney; grandson, Jacob Stephen Martin; sister, Martha Jane Stone, and brother, Thomas E. Stone.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lititia H. "Tish" Stone; sons and daughters-in-law Joe and Ginger Stone, Bill and Kay Stone, Bart and Robyn Stone; daughters and sons-in-law Susan Stone, Karen and Todd Middlebrooks, Roy Denney; grandchildren Andy and Brooke Johnson, Ben and Liles Johnson, Elizabeth and JR Wright, Bo and Elizabeth Stone, Amy and Jeff Vaughan, Taylor and Kenzie Stone, Wesley and Kate Stone, Sydney Stone, Meagan and Johnathan Geary, Logan Martin, Sam Stone, T.J. Middlebrooks, Stone Middlebrooks, and Murphy Middlebrooks; great-grandchildren Jay Stone, Katie Stone, Charlotte Vaughan, Grace Vaughan, Tate Stone, Tucker Stone, Drew Johnson, Will Johnson, Blakelee Isbil, Olivia Grace Isbil, Hugh Johnson, Tripp Wright, Birdie Wright, Jane Stone, Anne Katherine Stone, and Theo Geary; brother and sister-in-law Hinton and Vivian Stone; special friend and caretaker, Rosa Astos; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Brad Larson, Dr. Nikolaos Papadantonakis, Dr. Charlie Rouse, Dr. William Berard, Dr. Greg Slappey, Dr. Bryan Kirby, the Tanner Infusion Center team, and the wonderful healthcare team at Tanner Health and the Birches on Maple.
His Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, November 19 at 2:00 pm at Carrollton First Methodist Church with the Rev. Travis Snead and Bill Stone officiating, with Rev. Larry Patton and Dr. Bruce Lyon, with a reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall.
The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday, November 18 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.
Pallbearers will be Andy Johnson, Ben Johnson, Bo Stone, Taylor Stone, Wesley Stone, Sam Stone, T.J. Middlebrooks, Stone Middlebrooks, and Murphy Middlebrooks. Honorary pallbearers will be the Agape Sunday School Class, the Monday Night Group, and the Camping Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Healthcare Excellence Fund with Tanner Health Foundation: Tanner Foundation, Attn: Tanner Infusion Centers, P.O. Box 695 Carrollton, GA 30112 or by calling 770.812.GIFT. Gifts can be made online at tanner.org, please note Tanner Infusion in the comment section.
Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.
Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.