William Delmas Stone

Bill was born in 1921 in a house near Centreville, Pennsylvania on the Old National Pike. During the depression, his family moved to the Washington area. He graduated from Washington Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia in 1940. After high school Bill worked at the Naval gun factory in Washington during the war. Following that he worked for several small research and manufacturing concerns in the Washington area. Bill retired from his working career after 28 years at the United States Postal Laboratory in Rockville, Maryland where he was an instrument maker, working largely on building components for rapid mail sorting machines. He retired from the Postal Service in 1983.

Bill and his wife Nancy who died in 2012 did not have children but they had many nieces and nephews and numerous friends. Bill loved all things nature. He spent delightful hours fishing on the Potomac River above Great Falls and many times was joined by Nancy who also loved paddling in their Old Town Canoe in and out among the river islands. In the springtime Bill especially enjoyed fishing for trout in streams of the Shenandoah Valley. As an accomplished gardener he tended his vegetable garden in Falls Church for over 60 years. He was a member of the National Capital Dahlia Society and grew stunning dahlias of all sizes and colors winning several awards for his labors of love. One of Bill's great passions was providing for the colonies of purple martins which returned to their nesting site in his backyard for over 20 years.

Friends may call at the Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad Street (Rt. 7) where family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm on Friday, October 17 and from 10 to 11 on Saturday, October 18, followed by a service at Murphy's beginning at 11 AM and then interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia.

Arrangements under the direction of Murphy Falls Church Funeral Home, Falls Church, Virginia.