Thomas Richard Stone

His wife of 36 years, Judy, was with him as was his daughter Shelly and stepdaughter Johanna and stepson Chris.

Tom was born September 11, 1936, in Chicago IL, the 4th son and 7th child of Orton Gayland Stone and Gertrude Marie Schuster Stone. He spent his childhood in Chicago IL, Bloomingdale MI, and New Port Richey FL.

Tom graduated from Bloomingdale High School in 1954 – during his high school years he was a member of the school newspaper staff, the physics club, and was a starting player for the varsity basketball team.

Tom enlisted in the US Navy in September 1954, just days before his 18th birthday. He was stationed in San Diego and served honorably in the Pacific aboard the USS Erben (11/54-12/56) and the USS Tingey (12/56-8/57). During his service he was selected to serve as part of the Embassy attaché staff to Portugal. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1957 he served 5 years in the Navy Reserves.

In 1960, while a student at Central Michigan University, he met and married his first wife, Sara Piotrowski (surviving), with whom he had 5 children, all of which survive him: Shelly (Stone) Hibbeler (Richard), Suzette (Stone) Busa, Sheila (Stone) Sheats (Joey), Thomas Stone (Stacy) and Michael Stone, as well as 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Tom had a long career with Motorola as a top salesman, working first with the Michigan auto industry and later in Washington DC working with the federal government. He kept a small picture on his desk of an octopus writing on multiple notepads with the motto “Work Smarter, Not Harder.” Tom was an active entrepreneur servicing California Highway call boxes through his company Cell Data One and owning and operating a Mailbox Etc.

In 1989, Tom met and married Judith “Judy” Henscheid. Tom is survived by Judy, along with her 4 children Johanna (Henscheid) Dombo (Paul), Jon Henscheid, Chris Henscheid (Shane), Jeff Henscheid (Lisa) and as well as 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Tom and Judy were active in the Newport Beach Yacht Club, where Tom served as Commodore from 1999-2000 and 2014-2015. They enjoyed their friendships at the Newport Beach Elks and the American Legion. Together Tom and Judy stayed close to the water living primarily in California, and in Florida and North Carolina before finally settling in Alabama. They enjoyed traveling in Asia, cruising, and spending time in Hawaii.

Tom will be remembered for never knowing a stranger, smooth dance moves, his laugh and sense of humor, phone calls from the parking lot of Home Goods, and most of all his catch phrase “It is what it is.”

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Orton and Gertrude, brother Sgt. Robert G. “Buddy” Stone, sisters Ruth “Judy” VanVoorhees, Leona “Mitzi” Miskotten, and Elizabeth “Bonnie” Barber. He is survived by older brothers Raymond Stone, William Stone and younger sisters Patricia Weiss, Susan Katschke, and Diane Glassman.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on April 2, 2025, 11:00 am at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church, 3910 Spring Avenue SW, Decatur, AL 35603.

Inurnment with full military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium in the spring/summer of 2026. Family and friends will be invited to attend once the date and time is finalized.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Tom’s honor to a military veterans' organization of your choosing. Tom was incredibly proud of his service as a “Tin Can Sailor.”