Donald Charles (Stone) Stone

On Thursday, September 1, 2022, Donald Charles Stone passed away. He was eighty-six years old. Don was born February 25, 1936, to parents Burton William and Iva (née Woodruff) Stone in Dover, New Jersey. He graduated from Wharton (NJ) High School in 1953. Upon graduation, he went to work at Picatinny Arsenal. In 1957 he resigned from Picatinny to attend college. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He then entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. He was assigned to White Sands Missile Range, NM, where he served as Military Personnel Officer and Assistant Post Adjutant. In 1963 he joined Sandia National Laboratories where he held positions as Staff Member in Security, Administrative Systems, and Human Resources, then as a Department Manager in Security and Labor Relations. He retired in 1997 with 34 years of service.

Don enjoyed white water rafting for many years and rafted most of the wild rivers in the western U.S. For over 35 years he was active in wilderness search and rescue work, participating in over 600 missions including about 100 as the Incident Commander. He also served as an officer and board member of two search and rescue teams and served two terms on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council. He was an amateur radio operator, call sign N5DRS; and as an Emergency Medical Technician - Wilderness. After his retirement, Don enjoyed playing golf with several friends until back issues made him quit, but he continued to enjoy meeting his golf group for coffee twice a week for as long as he was able. He also enjoyed time spent with his neighbors and good friends Susan and RJ Korbach.

Don was preceded in death by his life partner, Jane Claire Champagne, his parents, his brothers, Raymond Sr. and Burton and his nephew, Bradford. He is survived by his nephew, Raymond (Karen) Stone Jr. of Stow, OH and niece, Roxanne Buck of Dayton, OH; three grandnephews; Victor (Alicia) Donald Stone, Raymond Alexander Stone, and Christopher Joseph Scott Nations, and two grandnieces; Xenia Anne Stone and Samantha Rose Stone.

Cremation has taken place and a Private Memorial Service for Don will be held at a later time.