Audrey was born May 4, 1932 in New York City and grew up a single child in the Bronx, where she attended a small Catholic girl’s high school and then Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. In 1949, a family friend introduced her to a midshipman, James Mullen Stone. They fell in love and were married on December 27, 1952, six months after his graduation from the Naval Academy. They were married more than 50 years until Jim’s death did part them in 2007.
The years flew by in part due to Jim’s many moves to various submarine bases and other Naval posts: Newport, RI, New London, CT, Philadelphia, PA, Springfield, VA, Norfolk, VA and, most excitingly, the island of Malta from 1968 to 1970. Audrey thoroughly enjoyed the diplomatic life that required her and Jim to dress up for formal affairs at the embassies of NATO allies and the villas of lords, contessas and other royalty. After that, they settled in a house in Silver Spring, MD for more than 30 years, then a condo in Leisure World, although much of their time was spent on multiple trips back to Europe and around the US or at their mountain getaway in Wintergreen, VA. Honestly, the kids had a hard time keeping track of where they were. After Jim’s death, Audrey continued to travel until she moved to the Ginger Cove retirement community when she started to need help due to memory loss issues.
She ran her household much like her husband ran a submarine, with precision. She loved good food, was a voracious reader, and never passed up a bargain on clothes. She volunteered at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, worked in the chaplain’s office at Holy Cross Hospital, and raised a large, loving family. She was a source of wisdom to many.
Surviving her are 5 children: Kevin, of Annapolis, MD, Ken of Woodbury, MN, Gary of Orlando, FL, Rick of Ft. Dix, NJ and (finally, a girl) Tracy, of Missoula, MT. There are also 14 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. When COVID concerns abate, there will be a large celebration of family and friends.
Audrey wanted to be cremated and her remains buried with Jim’s, who lies in Arlington National Cemetery. The date of that service, and the celebration where there will surely be some good scotch and “just right” cosmopolitans, is to be determined.
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