Connie Alex Stone

Connie Alex Stone, aged 83, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026, after an extended illness, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 14, 1943, in Raleigh, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Harvey Alex Stone and Naomi “Ruth” Upchurch Stone. Connie graduated from Cary High School in 1961 and married the love of his life, Mildred McLaurin Stone, in 1963.

Resourceful, intelligent, and endlessly creative, Connie, even as a young boy, would disassemble engines, build wagons and toys in the backyard. As a teenager, he worked putting roofs on houses, installing plumbing, and building custom kitchen cabinets, talents that served him well in finishing their first home.

Although he did not attend college, Connie had a God-given talent for understanding complex ideas. He served an apprenticeship in the precision machine shop at Riddick Engineering Laboratories at North Carolina State University. During his 22 years there, he worked alongside professors and graduate students across Chemical, Nuclear, and Mechanical Engineering, turning their ideas into reality and helping them re-engineer, design, and perfect their research projects.

Connie’s talents led Mildred and him to found their own business in 1982, Accu-Tool Corporation, a successful precision machining and design company that they sold in 2009. Some of his work included an early virtual-reality helmet for UNC in the 1970s, a weightlessness simulator for NASA, as well as parts for radar jamming devices for the Navy. Other specialties included aerospace, medical, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor devices.

Connie loved Jesus and was a charter member of The Shepherd’s Church (Colonial Baptist Church) which was a meaningful part of his life. He loved his church family. He was constantly looking forward to Christ’s return and going to Heaven. Often on Sundays the family would venture out on road trips where he would point out the beauty and magnificence of God’s creation. His faith, wonder, and humor were inseparable parts of the way he lived. As well as his faith, Connie will be remembered for loving his family and friends deeply and smiling easily. He was constantly doting on his wife and children. His compassion and generosity were endless, and he was always willing to give to others.

Humble and unassuming, he was just as content riding his tractor or lawn mower as he was building, creating, teaching, or repairing something that others thought impossible. He loved to learn and could happily talk about nature, the Bible, engineering, and almost any other subject. He always sang and whistled hymns as he worked. Time with him was filled with laughter. He loved to joke.

Connie is lovingly remembered by his wife of 63 years, Mildred McLaurin Stone, his son, Greg Stone and wife Linda Downey Stone of Raleigh; his daughters, Jennifer Owen and husband Simon of Raleigh, and Wendy Jackson and husband Jason of Raleigh; and his grandchildren, Blake Stone, Colby Stone, and Lauren Jackson. He is survived by his sister, Linda Haynes and husband William of Fuquay-Varina. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Betty Elliott, and her husband, Kenneth.

A Visitation will be held on October 8, 2026, at 9:30 am, followed by the Memorial Service at 10:30 am at The Shepherd’s Church, Chapel, 6051 Tryon Rd, Cary, North Carolina. The Graveside Service will be held at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S Wilmington St., Raleigh, North Carolina at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Shepherd’s Church Campus Expansion Building Program through https://shepherds.org/generations/ (To designate in Connie's Memory - beneath the amount given, please click on: + Add Memo)

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses, nurse’s aides, doctors, and staff at Rex Hospital and Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for the tireless care, love, and laughter they provided. We are so grateful for all you did for Connie.

If you would like to leave a favorite story/memory of Connie or a message of condolence to the family, you may do so below within "Add a Memory".