Willard L. Stone, 89
ADAMS, Mass. — Willard Leon Stone, 89, of 127 Shenandoah Trail, Warner Robins, Ga., a longtime resident of 9 First St., died Tuesday morning, May 10, 2005, at home.
Born in North Adams on May 23, 1915, son of Leon Stone and Gertrude Chilson Stone Belding, he attended schools there. He moved to Georgia in 1999.
Mr. Stone was employed as a welder in the power transformer division at GE in Pittsfield, retiring in 1975 after 34 years of service.
He was an active member of St. Stanislaus' Church for 65 years, serving as Eucharistic minister, usher and parish council member, president of its Holy Name and St. Michael's societies, and chairman of the Passionist Men's Retreats. He was a 4th-Degree Knight of Columbus, Council 230, and past deputy of Districts 1 and 2. He was a member of the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners' clubs. He was known for his quick wit and generosity, and especially enjoyed his family.
He and his wife, the former Wanda Pelczynski, were married Sept. 30, 1933.
Besides his wife, he leaves four sons, Gerald Stone and his wife, Sondra, of Warner Robins; Donald Stone and his wife, Nancy, of Inverness, Fla., Richard Stone and his wife, Barbara, of Lonedale, Mo., and John Stone and his wife, Helen, of Jaffrey, N.H.; a daughter, Virginia Antaya and her husband, Maurice, of Austin, Texas; a brother, Holice Belding of North Adams; 10 grandchildren, Susan Stone Feldhake, Theresa Vidoli, Laurie Weedo, Richard Stone Jr., Rosemarie Stone, Mark Stone, Jeffery Stone, Ashley Stone, Michelle Fisher, and Annemarie Caporina; six great-grandchildren, Maria, Christina and Kathleen Vidoli, Janice Weedo, Brianna and Marcus Fisher-Jones, and a great-great-granddaughter, Taylor Vidoli-Willsey.
He was predeceased by a sister, Alice Desmarais, and a brother, Ralph Stone.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mr. Stone will be Saturday, May 14, at 9 from AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Friday from 5 to 8 at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Mercy of God Prayer Center, P.O. Box 80193, Austin, Texas 78708. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, go to www.apsfuneralhome.com.