Roland was born in Hawthorne and raised in Newton; he graduated from Newton High School before serving as a Navy Seabee on Okinawa and Guam during WWII. After returning from the war, Roland moved to the Culver Lake section of Frankford Township and married Jean Peatfield, who predeceased him in 1959 and later married Clara Mabee who predeceased him in 2004. He was a Life Member and a three time Chief of the Frankford Township Fire Department, and also a member of the Kittatinny Masonic Lodge #164 F&AM in Branchville and The Grand Lodge F&AM, State of New Jersey. He worked for the Selective Insurance Company for many years and moved to Waynesboro, Virginia after his retirement. He returned to Frankford after the death of Clara.
The son of the late Roland and Sarah (Rich) Van Stone, Roland was also predeceased by his sister Doris of Newton. He is survived by his and Jean’s children Victoria Milone and husband John of Easton, Pennsylvania and Robert Van Stone and wife Ann of Elgin South Carolina. He is also survived by his stepdaughter Susan Wetzel and husband Phil of Newton, and his and Clara’s children Peter Van Stone and wife Donna of Culver Lake, Lori Havran and husband Joel of Waynesboro, Virginia, Richard Van Stone and wife Beverly of Branchville, and Thomas Van Stone of Branchville. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services are private and under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Frankford Township Fire Department, PO Box 419, Augusta, NJ 07822.
