Obit of Joseph Eugene Stone (s350) - Bryan County, Oklahoma Submitted by: C Colston 8 Nov 2003 Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan.htm ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Wednesday, October 29, 2003 Durant Daily Democrat Joseph Eugene Stone Joseph Eugene Stone, beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully October 7, 2003 at Mercy Hospital, Bakersfield, California. He was interred October 16, 2003 at the Kern River Valley Cemetery, Wofford Heights, California. Joseph ‘Eugene’ was born January 12, 1918, in Bokchito, Oklahoma, to Walter W. Stone and Olivia Long. He was captain of the basketball team and graduated from Bokchito High School in 1936. His sister Mildred ‘Midge’ remembers Eugene teaching basketball and receiving recognition as the ‘best all-around athlete’. Eugene’s father W.W. Stone owned the ice plant and lumber yard in Bokchito. His Uncle Troy Aldrich Stone owned and operated the Stone Butane-Propane Service Co. in Durant from the mid 1940's until his death in 1982. Eugene married his wife of 63 years, Ruth Genevieve Smith, October 19, 1940 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The raised six children, five girls and one boy. Eugene’s enlistment in the Navy in 1937 marked the beginning of forty-two years of government service. He worked for the Department of Defense as a civilian electronic technician at the Navy Shipyard during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After fighting fires on the USS Pennsylvania, he selflessly aided those wounded by delivering medical supplies to area treating casualties. He was awarded the prestigious Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal for his courageous service. He embarked on a personal crusade to find other civilian survivors and their relatives to help be recognized. He continued his government service at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, transferring to China Lake (Naval Weapons Center) California in 1950. He worked at the Michelson Laboratory as a laboratory mechanic and as lead contract liaison for the engineering department, retiring in 1971. Eugene retired on a Friday then began a new career the following Monday as a probation counselor for boys at Camp Owen (Juvenile Forestry Camp), Kernville California. Eugene is remembered for his outstanding community service. He received recognition for his many years of teaching archery to both youngsters and adults. In 1973, Eugene retired from Camp Owen but continued on as their most awarded volunteer. Over the years he enriched the lives of many young men with his bee-keeping program. He had a great sense of humor. One of his favorite jokes was to have the new boy from camp retrieve and open a cookie tin (inside was a frozen coiled rattlesnake ready to strike). Eugene was an advocate for conservation of local wildlife. His passion was to teach others about wild flowers, native plants, and bird watching. His contribution is well described in this poem written by a mother of one of the boys from camp; ‘He talks of things you have taught him and lessons have stuck in his mind He says you are a man of values, that you are considerate and kind. Thanks for the stories of nature, Bees, pollination and flowers I want to thank you most of all for the gift of yourself and your hours.’ Eugene was preceded in his passing by his daughter Harriett White in 1994. Eugene is missed by family and friends. We are truly lucky to have been loved by him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan.htm