William Gene Stone MD

William Gene Stone, M.D., age 86, of Las Vegas, known to his friends and colleagues as Bill, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas. Bill was born on Mother’s Day, May 8, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to James Stone and Bertha (Freeman) Stone. He was one of five children, born into a loving family and all very bright, so competition was keen and Bill always strived to win. He joined the Scouting movement in his youth and was extremely proud of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and was always a leader. A teenager, he was the youngest Scout Leader in Illinois at that time. Bill decided he wanted to be a Medical Doctor and it became the leading motivation in his late teen years. He then married his first wife, Florence, and they started a family. He joined the Navy during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant JG. Some of his service aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Bon Homme Richard, CV 31 included aviation physiologist in charge of the decompression chamber. He also trained recruits to pass the Naval swimming requirements. Later in his Navy career he was stationed in Adak, Alaska, Pensacola, Florida and eventually in Hawaii in Barbers Point. After his service to his country, he completed his education under the GI Bill which included the University of Illinois – Navy Pier in Chicago and was accorded by the University of Illinois, Doctor of Medicine on June 8, 1962. He continued his education and eventually went on to become a Psychiatrist. Dr. Stone’s earlier career was Director of The Mental Health Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Bill moved his family to Las Vegas just prior to his first wife, Florence's, death in 1977.. After her death, he was instrumental in setting up the Emergency Room at Valley Hospital in Las Vegas. Other accomplishments included: First Chief of Staff at Montevista Hospital in Las Vegas and he also performed rounds at five other hospital in the Las Vegas Valley. He opened the University of Humanistic Studies and the Red Rock Neuropsychiatric Institute. He was also very involved in the local level. He held every office afforded by the Nevada Psychiatric Association. Bill also held the honor of being the Representative to the American Psychiatric Association for a number of years representing the State of Nevada to that organization and subsequently received the award of Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Stone eventually continued in private practice here in Las Vegas and served his patients with expert care. After his private practice closed, Dr. Stone became one of the Mental Health Court Physicians and remained in that position until his retirement in 2013. Several years ago, Dr. Stone received a recognition award from the American Medical Association for 50 years of Service as a Physician. He was an avid chess player and was an accomplish ping pong player. Bill excelled in swimming, horseback riding, camping and running, however due to a leg injury in the early 2000’s, his ability to continue the activities he loved became greatly hampered. His later active years included swimming, in which he delighted. Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Judith A. (Delimon) Stone, daughters: Janet Olsen-Stone, Barbara Stone, both of St. Paul, Minnesota; son, Lawrence Stone, of Wheeler, Wisconsin; six grandchildren: Gus and Carter Olsen, Jordan Jin Stone, Danielle, Michael and William Stone; brother, Donald Stone of California and sister, Carol Nye of Illinois. A memorial service will be held 10:30am on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Catholic Church, 2120 Lindell Rd., Las Vegas. Ennichement will take place alongside Bill’s first wife, Florence (Raby) Stone and son Robert Louis Stone, in the columbarium of Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Stone’s name are suggested to the Las Vegas International Scouting Museum, 3025 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada 89102, where Bill’s Eagle Scout pin and his other scouting memorabilia will be placed for all to see. He will be greatly missed by all. Arrangements entrusted to Palm Northwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada.