Ralph "C" Stone

Ralph "C" Stone of Laurel, MD, died on Sunday, February 19, 2012, in hospice care at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD at the age of 91. Ralph was born on June 17, 1920 in Baldwin Park, CA to the late Ralph C Stone and Inez Hopkins

Ralph is survived by his wife Dorothy Louise (Eliot) Stone and only son, Garold Raymond Stone and wife Linda Brayer Stone, all in Laurel, MD; and two grandsons, Jesse Stone (and wife Rachel McLaren), in Iowa City, IA and Eliot Stone in Denver, CO.

During the Great Depression Ralph skipped college to work in the construction materials business of his step-father, Walt Ziegler, in Bellflower, CA, where he learned the value of hard and honest work.

In 1942 Ralph married Dorothy, four years younger than him, for which he was kidded for "robbing the cradle". During World War II he voluntarily enlisted in the Navy and served on Guam overhauling aircraft engines at night. During the day, he often also worked with the Navy Construction Battalion, where he shared better meals than at his own unit. Although Guam was supposedly pacified, Japanese snipers were still active and Japanese soldiers were even caught trying to sneak into American chow lines. After the war he served briefly in the Navy Reserve and was promoted to Aviation Chief Machinist Mate before returning to civilian life. Then he and Dorothy bought a home in Whittier, CA., where he became a member of the Masonic Lodge and later a Boy Scouts leader.

For a few years Ralph was an insurance agent, before getting steadier work in the Mobile oil fields around Bellflower, CA. Later he worked in construction as a union Steamfitter doing heavy construction work all across the Los Angeles area. There he earned a hard-working reputation that kept him employed whenever construction work was hard to get. He retired early after several on-job injuries. Ralph always worked hard for his family, and to pay for his son's education, and to give him many other opportunties.

In their large back yard Ralph kept fruit trees and a very large aviary of dozens of beautiful tropical birds. With special care he was able to raise and sell mated pairs of delicate multi-colored Gouldian finches that he loved so much, which paid for all the other birds and a few other extras for the family. He enjoyed working with Dorothy on their increasingly valuable collection of stamps.

In 2002 Ralph and Dorothy moved to Laurel, MD to be near their son Garold's family.

Ralph was always kind and he made friends easily. He enjoyed talking and joking with people -- family, friends, even complete strangers. And he really enjoyed good eating. He surrounded himself with pictures of his most recent great joy, his first great-grandchild, Ella (daughter of Jesse & Rachel).

The family will receive friends at Donaldson Funeral Home. 313 Talbot Ave, Laurel, MD on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 2-4 & 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Hospice, 11800 Tech Rd., Suite 240, Silver Spring, MD 20904 attention Louis Faulkner, 301-754-7740
Online condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfuneralhome.com