Giles Russell Stone, Sr., 88, a resident of Harrisonburg passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024. He was born on January 26, 1935 in Parkersburg, WV and was the son of the late Samuel Spencer Stone and Catherine Hammat Stone.
On July 8, 1961, he married Donna Smith Stone, who preceded him in death on October 9, 2023.
He is survived by his children, Giles Russell Stone, Jr. and wife, Kimberly, of Henrico, Todd Byron Stone and wife, Alexandria, of Richmond, and Marilyn Stone Pendlebury and husband, Chris, of Mechanicsville; his grandchildren, Emily Erard-Stone and her mother, Andrea Erard, Nicholas and Elliott Stone, Jack, Cate and Erin Pendlebury; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, his brothers, James and Charles Stone; and a sister, Mary Bane, preceded him in death.
Giles moved to Harrisonburg in March of 1960 to embark on his new career as a pharmaceutical representative for the Parke-Davis Company. The following year, Giles married his college sweetheart, Donna, after they met in comparative anatomy class at Marietta College in Ohio. Their storybook life spanned 62 years of marriage in the town they deeply loved, Harrisonburg, VA. Over the years, they raised Great Danes, mules, cows, children, chickens, horses, grandchildren, cats and goats. Donna was a Cub Scout den mother for her boys and she served on the board of the Children’s Museum, the Spotswood Garden Club and delivered meals on wheels to the needy. She never spoke an ill word about anyone and lived a saintly life. She was a model citizen, mother, wife and friend to many. Giles was an ambitious, creative and industrious family man. He often told his children and grandchildren how proud he was of them. He was a past president of the Harrisonburg Rotary Club, a board member of the JMU Foundation and the Harrisonburg Electric Commission as well as an avid supporter of JMU basketball and football. He loved to meet with his coffee group in the mornings and also had regular lunches and dinners with close friends throughout each week. He met monthly with a group known, as “Saints and Sinners” while never revealing whether he belonged to one camp or the other. He deeply cared about his community and was so proud of how much Harrisonburg had grown over the years. They loved spending sunsets on the front porch of their barn admiring the walnut trees and feeding their beloved deer. Giles credited Donna for all of his successes in business, family and other life pursuits. He was holding and stroking Donna’s hand when she passed just months ago. He often commented how her absence “hurts” but he somehow mustered a positive, loving attitude which will serve as an example for his children in how to handle such a loss. He found comfort all around in the many notes that Donna left for him saying, “I love you Giles” and “I love my kids.” They will be missed terribly but they are now where they belong, together forever.
A visitation for family and friends will be held 6-8 pm, Friday, February 2, 2024 at Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in honor of Giles and Donna Stone directly to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, 663 Thirteenth Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94612; or online at: mdf.networkforgood.com.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyfuneralhomes.com.
