Richard Stone
On the evening of November 10, 2024, we lost a man who defied all the odds, lived life to the fullest and on his own terms—even at the end--- who was deeply loved by all who knew him. Richard Jack Stone, Sr, known as “Jack,” “Pop,” and “Uncle Jack" to his friends and family passed peacefully at Baptist Medical Center Downtown. Jacksonville, Florida. He was surrounded by his family at the end. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Jack was born on June 14, 1927, in Ooltewah, Tennessee to Hazel and Roger Stone. He was their first born. Three years later, his sister Peggy arrived, completing the family. Roger was a local businessman in Ooltewah who owned and operated a small car lot, Stone Motor Company. This was the beginning of a multigenerational interest in the automobile industry.
Jack had known Betty Jo Chesnutt since high school and when she returned to Chattanooga from her time at Berry College, a romance began. They were married on January 3, 1953, at Apison Baptist church. Jack always said that marrying Betty was the best thing that ever happened to him, followed only by the birth of their son, Jack, Jr, on November 28, 1953.
In the early 60’s, Jack began working as a sales rep for the AC/Delco Division of General Motors, a job he would hold until his retirement. The position provided him and his family with many opportunities, including trips to Mexico City and Puerto Rico. Eventually his job required him to transfer to a new city, taking Jack and his family away from the place where they had grown up and had deep ties to the community. The first move in 1972 was to Birmingham, Alabama. A year later, he was transferred to again, this time to Central Florida, a place where they would live together for the rest of their lives.
Moving first to Winter Park, outside Orlando, and later in 1981, to Oviedo, they discovered the fun of living in a place where it didn’t get cold often (and not for very long). Betty’s health improved and Jack would never try to move her back to Tennessee. They discovered boating, owning first a smaller boat, and later a 23' Carver, which they trailered with the Orange County Boat Club to the Gulf Coast, up the St. Johns River, and on the lakes in Central Florida on their weekend trips. Orlando was the home of the Bay Hill Classic (now the Arnold Palmer Invitational). Through his many connections, Jack became a marshal at the tournaments with Betty often joining him as a spectator. They enjoyed watching golf tournaments, even as they got older when they were only able to watch them on TV.
Jack retired from GM, and they bought a motorhome, taking two memorable trips—one to Alaska and the other to Nova Scotia. They bought a place on a canal in Georgetown, Florida where they spent weekends enjoying river life. They were able to share this place with their grandchildren, Will and Bailey, who both have fond memories of going out on the boat and fishing from the dock. In retirement Jack discovered the fun of genealogy and spent the next decade traveling to do research on their respective families. Together they filled over 20 binders with information about every branch of both the Chesnutt and Stone family trees. Those binders are a legacy that are filled with documents, photographs, and hand-written stories that Jack wrote on a yellow legal pad.
Betty passed away January 10, 2021, and a short time after, his son convinced Jack that moving to Jacksonville would be the best thing. He spent the last three years of his life at Starling on San Jose. It took a few months to adjust to the changes that occurred so rapidly in his life, but with the encouragement of the staff and his physical therapist, he acclimated and began participating in the activities. He became known as the expert at Trivia and was a frequent winner at the Price is Right. He made it a point to learn everyone’s name so he could greet them whenever their paths crossed, eventually making many friends among both the staff and residents.
Jack was predeceased by his wife Betty Jo Chesnutt Stone and his son, Richard Jackson Stone, Jr. He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Suzi Bailey Stone; his two grandchildren, William Jackson Bailey Stone (Megan Wiggins) and Katherine Bailey Stone Tamoney (Harry); his great-granddaughter, Margot Jacqueline Wiggins-Stone; and his nieces, Monica Laughlin Kattner, Sarah Laughlin Hottman (Tom), Judy Chesnutt, and Cheri Perry.
A graveside service will be held on January 4, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at the Ooltewah Cemetery with a reception to follow at the West Community Room, 4910 Swinyar Drive, Ooltewah, Tn. In lieu of flowers, please make gifts to the Ooltewah Cemetery, Maintenance Fund, 7244 Neville Drive, Ooltewah, Tn. 37363.