Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Richard Stone
2032 - 2025
Richard Stone Obituary
Captain Richard Stone
6/23/32 - 11/23/25
Salt Lake City, Utah-Captain Richard (Dick) Banfe Stone died peacefully on November 23, 2025 with family and his wife, Ruth, of almost 72 years by his side. Never one to sit idle, he spent his professional career as a commercial airline pilot while also actively participating in the Air Line Pilots Association investigating cockpit noise, pilot medical issues, human factors in aviation, and aircraft accidents. Frequently, family dinners were interrupted by requests for him to talk to a pilot in need or to investigate the latest aircraft accident. He loved to tell stories from his accident investigations, focusing not on his intelligence, but his commonsense contributions. "I was never the smartest person in the room, but I was a hard worker," he often said. A plaque bearing Dick's name hangs in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. for his work on aircraft accident investigation.
Dick's energy was immense. When he wasn't flying airplanes or investigating accidents, he was skiing, playing bridge, golf, handball or tennis, fly fishing, making Hungarian food, throwing pottery, tying flies, making wine, growing a victory garden, building furniture, playing the piano, or volunteering for The Nature Conservancy.
Dick was born on June 23, 1932, to Irving Charles Stone and Mary Banfe Stone at their home on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. While attending the University of Illinois, Dick met the love of his life, Ruth, when he followed her home from church. They married on January 31, 1954, and after graduating from college, Dick began serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force, living in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
In 1957, Dick and Ruth moved to Massachusetts where he began working as a commercial airline pilot for Northeast Air Lines which merged with Delta Airlines.
Dick and Ruth settled their family in Hampton, New Hampshire. In 1966, Dick's took up skiing, patiently lacing his daughters' boots, attaching their cable bindings and teaching them to ski.
In 1978, Dick and Ruth moved to Atlanta, Georgia to enable Dick to fly large aircraft overseas for the final 14 years of his career. Upon retirement in 1992 and with 26,000 flight hours, Dick and Ruth moved to Bountiful, Utah where Dick enjoyed fly fishing, golfing and especially skiing at Alta with the "Wild Old Bunch." Dick was elected serve as the President of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and served for two terms.
Dick and Ruth moved to The Ridge Foothill in 2021 and enjoyed dining with their new friends. Dick continued to ski until 2021. Dick moved to Memory Care at The Ridge in March of 2025 and enjoyed daily lunches with Ruth and their friends. The family is deeply thankful to the kind and caring staff members at the Ridge and at Canyon Home Care and Hospice.
Dick is survived by his wife, Ruth, his brother Irving, his three daughters, Katherine Carpenter (Chuck), Mary Dumler (Richard), Karin Hobbs (Lincoln), six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Dick is a member of Christ United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
6/23/32 - 11/23/25
Salt Lake City, Utah-Captain Richard (Dick) Banfe Stone died peacefully on November 23, 2025 with family and his wife, Ruth, of almost 72 years by his side. Never one to sit idle, he spent his professional career as a commercial airline pilot while also actively participating in the Air Line Pilots Association investigating cockpit noise, pilot medical issues, human factors in aviation, and aircraft accidents. Frequently, family dinners were interrupted by requests for him to talk to a pilot in need or to investigate the latest aircraft accident. He loved to tell stories from his accident investigations, focusing not on his intelligence, but his commonsense contributions. "I was never the smartest person in the room, but I was a hard worker," he often said. A plaque bearing Dick's name hangs in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. for his work on aircraft accident investigation.
Dick's energy was immense. When he wasn't flying airplanes or investigating accidents, he was skiing, playing bridge, golf, handball or tennis, fly fishing, making Hungarian food, throwing pottery, tying flies, making wine, growing a victory garden, building furniture, playing the piano, or volunteering for The Nature Conservancy.
Dick was born on June 23, 1932, to Irving Charles Stone and Mary Banfe Stone at their home on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. While attending the University of Illinois, Dick met the love of his life, Ruth, when he followed her home from church. They married on January 31, 1954, and after graduating from college, Dick began serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force, living in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
In 1957, Dick and Ruth moved to Massachusetts where he began working as a commercial airline pilot for Northeast Air Lines which merged with Delta Airlines.
Dick and Ruth settled their family in Hampton, New Hampshire. In 1966, Dick's took up skiing, patiently lacing his daughters' boots, attaching their cable bindings and teaching them to ski.
In 1978, Dick and Ruth moved to Atlanta, Georgia to enable Dick to fly large aircraft overseas for the final 14 years of his career. Upon retirement in 1992 and with 26,000 flight hours, Dick and Ruth moved to Bountiful, Utah where Dick enjoyed fly fishing, golfing and especially skiing at Alta with the "Wild Old Bunch." Dick was elected serve as the President of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and served for two terms.
Dick and Ruth moved to The Ridge Foothill in 2021 and enjoyed dining with their new friends. Dick continued to ski until 2021. Dick moved to Memory Care at The Ridge in March of 2025 and enjoyed daily lunches with Ruth and their friends. The family is deeply thankful to the kind and caring staff members at the Ridge and at Canyon Home Care and Hospice.
Dick is survived by his wife, Ruth, his brother Irving, his three daughters, Katherine Carpenter (Chuck), Mary Dumler (Richard), Karin Hobbs (Lincoln), six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Dick is a member of Christ United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune, The Salt Lake Tribune from Nov. 28 to Dec. 7, 2025.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Stone
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Richard Stone's name
Memorial Events
for Richard Stone
How to support Richard's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Richard Stone's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
