Joseph Donald Stone

PILOT MOUNTAIN - Mr. Joseph Donald Stone was born Aug. 29, 1928, in Dobson to the late Wendell Bernice and Mary Mills Stone. He died on Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the age of 77. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a degree in pharmacy, he opened Surry Drug Co. in Pilot Mountain in 1957. He owned and operated the pharmacy for 40 years. While he was always active in the community, it was during retirement he found time to really give back. He was a member of the Pilot Mountain Civic Club and received its Citizen of the Year award in 1997. He was also instrumental in the development of the family life center at the First United Methodist Church and a major contributor and active member of Armfield Civic Center. Those that knew him would tell you he "never met a stranger" and would go out of his way to extend a helping hand. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mrs. Sue Whitfield Stone, of the home; daughters and sons-in-law Catherine Stone Thorp and husband Stephen, Boston, Mass; Susan Stone Luskin and husband Allan, Madison, Wis.; Anne Stone Napps and husband Greg, Richmond, Va.; and Ellen Stone Mayhew and husband Jim, Manchester, N.H.; son and daughter-in-law David Stone and wife Kelly, Durham; and grandchildren Kate, Taylor, Jonathan and Benjamin Luskin, Cameron and Elizabeth Napps, Max Mayhew, Susan Soltis, Margaret Dorsey and Julie and Lydia Thorp. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, March 30, at First United Methodist Church of Pilot Mountain, with the Rev. David Wyant officiating. Interment will follow at Pilot Mountain City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Charles H. Stone Memorial Library, 309 Main St., Pilot Mountain, NC 27041; Hope Valley, P.O. Box 467, Dobson, NC 27017; or the Cardinal Foundation, c/o Dan Stone, P.O. Box 681, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041. The family is being served by Howell-Nelson Funeral Service of Pilot Mountain.