John Stone
June 12, 1956 — November 2, 2017
John Stone
John Robert Stone, 61, of Little Rock, passed away Thursday Nov 2, 2017. Born June 12, 1956 in Dallas to Beatrice Redd Stone and Robert Don Stone, he is survived by his wife of 35 years, Judy , and son, Luke, sister, Margaret and Jack Hyatt, sister in-law, Linda Dalton and the late Joe Dalton, two nephews, Josh Hyatt and Joe Dalton, Jr.
Robert, who always went by his middle name, was 15 months younger than his sister, Margaret Fox-Hyatt, whom he admired and loved. He cried every time she left for big school (kindergarten) because he wanted his "Margaret." In 1964, his Mother remarried Bob Fox who was an outstanding man and step-father. Bob graciously raised Robert and Margaret, providing them a wonderful childhood that prepared them for life's many challenges. The family moved to Beaumont, TX, where he spent much of his youth. He and his family were always active in the Methodist Church, where Robert and Margaret attended church camp most summers.
While in Beaumont, he joined the Boy Scouts which was the beginning of one his lifelong passions. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout along with two gold palms, which is far beyond the minimum requirements for Eagle Scout. This love of Boy Scouts continued when his son Luke turned seven and Robert became a scout master to be a role model for Luke and other boys. He served in many leadership positions in scouting for nearly 20 years and one of his proudest moments was his role in guiding Luke to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He always said he looked forward to being involved with his grandson in Scouts.
Before his high school junior year, his family moved to Overton, TX in the eastern part of the state. He attended Overton High School where he graduated valedictorian of his senior class. In his junior year of high school he opened a portfolio to apply to attend the US Military Academy of West Point, New York. He received an early appointment from Texas State Representative Wright Patman. Unlike many of his high school buddies celebrating their graduation, he was off to West Point within 30 days of graduating. Instead of enjoying the summer and looking forward to going to what he called a "normal college," he was spending his summer vacation going through "Beast Barracks," a grueling physical and mental indoctrination into military training.
He graduated West Point with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was sent to officer school training for six months where he chose to serve in air defense artillery. He was then sent to serve active duty in Manheim, Germany, which turned out to be one of the most exciting periods in his life. In Germany, he achieved the rank of captain, commanding a battalion of 110 men, and most importantly, met the love of his life, Judy, who was a civilian teaching school overseas.
They were introduced by a mutual dancing friend and quickly fell in love. Little did Judy know, Robert quickly went to work using his car and Judy's lack thereof, as an opportunity to get to know and spend as much time with her. They were married in December 1982 and left Germany the same year. He was offered two jobs state-side, both in Texas of course. One job was in Houston and the other in Midland. He let Judy choose and she chose Midland because she knew she would not survive the Houston traffic.
Robert and Judy enjoyed living in Midland for four years, where they had a wonderful addition to their family, their only child, Luke in 1984. While in Midland, he began his long career as a quality engineer working for Texas Instruments. They made many friends and were active members of First Baptist Midland. He also studied to be a 32nd Degree Mason and went on to become a Shriner later in Dallas. Finally, he earned an MBA from the University of Texas Permian Basin before being transferred to Dallas with TI. While in Midland he always joked, "we live on the beach with all the sand, but no ocean."
After moving to Dallas, they settled in Plano where they reared Luke and lived for 25 years. They still own the house that was Robert's longest residence and the one he always called home. Robert left Texas Instruments after eight years to pursue better jobs in quality assurance manufacturing. While in Plano, they were active members of First Baptist Plano for 20 years and later moved their letter to Prestonwood Baptist Church.
Then in 2010, Robert and Judy moved to Little Rock to care for Judy's ailing mother. There they joined Immanuel Baptist Church and became members of the Woodman Sunday school class. Although Robert travelled much and was sometimes gone for months, it always made him feel so good when he was welcomed back to the Sunday School family like he had never missed a Sunday. He often remarked how much he loved his Sunday School class and even this last Sunday he was talking about he had never felt this loved by a Sunday School because they care so much for others. He particularly enjoyed Sunday School discussions where everybody knows he loved to ask questions.
The Texan in Robert always had a desire to move back to Dallas, but he loved his cul-de-sac neighbors. He always said, he "never had neighbors like these until he moved to Little Rock." He tried his hardest to talk their ears off and then would comment to Judy, "Wow! The neighbors can really talk." He absolutely loved to take the dogs out to play with the other puppies in the neighborhood.
Although he was reared and confirmed in the Methodist faith, he joined the Baptist Church in Midland because he wanted his family to be unified in the same faith and church. He was baptized when they joined First Baptist Plano. He enjoyed seven years of Bible Study Fellowship in Plano and attended multiple Promise Keeper events.
We all know Robert was a little rough around the edges and had a hard outer shell, but once you got to know him he was one of the softest kindest people you ever knew and always quick to forgive. He was a West Point Graduate and proud to have served his country. He loved his dogs, his books and always a good home cooked meal. He was a Texan through and through. His big belly laugh that would fill a room will be fondly missed by all those who loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7th at Immanuel Baptist Chapel, with visitation prior to the service starting at 10:30 a.m. Burial with Full Military Honors will be at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Immanuel Baptist Out Reach program, 501 N. Shackelford Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211 or to the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72210.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205 (501)224-2200. Robert's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
501 N. Shackleford
Little Rock, AR, 72211
1501 W. Maryland Avenue
North Little Rock, AR, 72120
501 N. Shackleford
Little Rock, AR, 72211
Robert, who always went by his middle name, was 15 months younger than his sister, Margaret Fox-Hyatt, whom he admired and loved. He cried every time she left for big school (kindergarten) because he wanted his "Margaret." In 1964, his Mother remarried Bob Fox who was an outstanding man and step-father. Bob graciously raised Robert and Margaret, providing them a wonderful childhood that prepared them for life's many challenges. The family moved to Beaumont, TX, where he spent much of his youth. He and his family were always active in the Methodist Church, where Robert and Margaret attended church camp most summers.
While in Beaumont, he joined the Boy Scouts which was the beginning of one his lifelong passions. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout along with two gold palms, which is far beyond the minimum requirements for Eagle Scout. This love of Boy Scouts continued when his son Luke turned seven and Robert became a scout master to be a role model for Luke and other boys. He served in many leadership positions in scouting for nearly 20 years and one of his proudest moments was his role in guiding Luke to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He always said he looked forward to being involved with his grandson in Scouts.
Before his high school junior year, his family moved to Overton, TX in the eastern part of the state. He attended Overton High School where he graduated valedictorian of his senior class. In his junior year of high school he opened a portfolio to apply to attend the US Military Academy of West Point, New York. He received an early appointment from Texas State Representative Wright Patman. Unlike many of his high school buddies celebrating their graduation, he was off to West Point within 30 days of graduating. Instead of enjoying the summer and looking forward to going to what he called a "normal college," he was spending his summer vacation going through "Beast Barracks," a grueling physical and mental indoctrination into military training.
He graduated West Point with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was sent to officer school training for six months where he chose to serve in air defense artillery. He was then sent to serve active duty in Manheim, Germany, which turned out to be one of the most exciting periods in his life. In Germany, he achieved the rank of captain, commanding a battalion of 110 men, and most importantly, met the love of his life, Judy, who was a civilian teaching school overseas.
They were introduced by a mutual dancing friend and quickly fell in love. Little did Judy know, Robert quickly went to work using his car and Judy's lack thereof, as an opportunity to get to know and spend as much time with her. They were married in December 1982 and left Germany the same year. He was offered two jobs state-side, both in Texas of course. One job was in Houston and the other in Midland. He let Judy choose and she chose Midland because she knew she would not survive the Houston traffic.
Robert and Judy enjoyed living in Midland for four years, where they had a wonderful addition to their family, their only child, Luke in 1984. While in Midland, he began his long career as a quality engineer working for Texas Instruments. They made many friends and were active members of First Baptist Midland. He also studied to be a 32nd Degree Mason and went on to become a Shriner later in Dallas. Finally, he earned an MBA from the University of Texas Permian Basin before being transferred to Dallas with TI. While in Midland he always joked, "we live on the beach with all the sand, but no ocean."
After moving to Dallas, they settled in Plano where they reared Luke and lived for 25 years. They still own the house that was Robert's longest residence and the one he always called home. Robert left Texas Instruments after eight years to pursue better jobs in quality assurance manufacturing. While in Plano, they were active members of First Baptist Plano for 20 years and later moved their letter to Prestonwood Baptist Church.
Then in 2010, Robert and Judy moved to Little Rock to care for Judy's ailing mother. There they joined Immanuel Baptist Church and became members of the Woodman Sunday school class. Although Robert travelled much and was sometimes gone for months, it always made him feel so good when he was welcomed back to the Sunday School family like he had never missed a Sunday. He often remarked how much he loved his Sunday School class and even this last Sunday he was talking about he had never felt this loved by a Sunday School because they care so much for others. He particularly enjoyed Sunday School discussions where everybody knows he loved to ask questions.
The Texan in Robert always had a desire to move back to Dallas, but he loved his cul-de-sac neighbors. He always said, he "never had neighbors like these until he moved to Little Rock." He tried his hardest to talk their ears off and then would comment to Judy, "Wow! The neighbors can really talk." He absolutely loved to take the dogs out to play with the other puppies in the neighborhood.
Although he was reared and confirmed in the Methodist faith, he joined the Baptist Church in Midland because he wanted his family to be unified in the same faith and church. He was baptized when they joined First Baptist Plano. He enjoyed seven years of Bible Study Fellowship in Plano and attended multiple Promise Keeper events.
We all know Robert was a little rough around the edges and had a hard outer shell, but once you got to know him he was one of the softest kindest people you ever knew and always quick to forgive. He was a West Point Graduate and proud to have served his country. He loved his dogs, his books and always a good home cooked meal. He was a Texan through and through. His big belly laugh that would fill a room will be fondly missed by all those who loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7th at Immanuel Baptist Chapel, with visitation prior to the service starting at 10:30 a.m. Burial with Full Military Honors will be at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Immanuel Baptist Out Reach program, 501 N. Shackelford Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211 or to the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72210.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205 (501)224-2200. Robert's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
Funeral Service
NOV 7. 11:30 AM (CST)
Immanuel Baptist Church501 N. Shackleford
Little Rock, AR, 72211
Burial
NOV 7. 1:00 PM (CST)
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery1501 W. Maryland Avenue
North Little Rock, AR, 72120
Visitation
NOV 7. 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (CST)
Immanuel Baptist Church501 N. Shackleford
Little Rock, AR, 72211
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