William Francis Lincoln Stone Sr.'s Obituary
“Bill” passed away early in the morning on Friday, February 20, 2009, at North Ottawa Community Hospital, following a long illness. He was surrounded by the family he so loved and cherished, and his last words to them were quietly whispered –“I love you.” He will be missed more than could have been imagined. He was born on July 2, 1932, to Samuel and Berdean (VanZanten) Stone, Sr. in Muskegon, MI on March 25, 1961. He married the love of his life, the former Sue A. Wilhelm. They were together almost 48 years. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, and his brother, Samuel Stone, Jr. He attended the one room DeWitt schoolhouse in Spring Lake, and graduated from Mona Shores High School. He retired from Campbell Wyant and Cannon after 28 years as a Journeyman Pattern Maker. He also enjoyed working at Mills Manufacturing on and off since the late 1950’s. Bill was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time “Up North’ in Bitely, MI, hunting with his three sons and grandsons every fall and winter. His passion was his family, and he never failed to brag about all of them to anyone who would listen. One of his last requests was to have a picture of “Bill and Sue” displayed at his funeral “so that the world could see what a beautiful wife he had.” Bill loved sporting events, and was quite the boxer in his day. He always bragged as he pointed at the floor: “I was never on the canvas!” His nickname was “One Punch,” and his license plate said the same. He rarely missed any of his children or grandchildren’s sporting events, and recently attended an Alumni Basketball game (wheelchair bound) so he could see his sons “play one more time.” Family: his wife, Sue; three sons, William Francis Lincoln Stone Jr., (Rose) of Fruitport, Bernard Edward Stone, (Sherry) of Grand Haven, and Bradley Dirk Stone Sr., (Jeanette) of Ionia; eight grandchildren, Amanda (Bryan) VanLoo, Billy III, Anna and Jayna Stone, Benji Jr., and Melissa Stone, Bradley “Beau” and Savannah Stone. Also, two great-grandchildren, Brayden and Parker; sister-in-law, Carol Stone; sisters, Thelma (Art) Bernadino, Victoria (Ron) Anderson, Peggy (Bryan) McLay, Ruth (Harold) Moore; brothers, Ben (Jean) Stone, Morrie (Linda) Stone, James “Dick” (Doris) Stone; sisters-in-law, Rebecca Jane (Victor) McClain and Betty (Greg) Howard. FUNERAL SERVICE will be 11 AM, Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at The Lee Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc.6291 S. Harvey St. 231-798-1100 with Pastor Delbert Yoder officiating. VISITATION with the family will be 7-9 PM Monday. BURIAL will take place at Lakeshore Cemetery in Grand Haven Twp. MEMORIALS to ALS “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” would be appreciated.
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