Stephen L. Reverend Stoner

Reverend Stephen L. Stoner, age 63, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born April 19, 1949 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to Charles Wilbur "Wib" and Dorothy "Dotty" Stoner.

Steve graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 1967 where he served as class president, member of the National Honor Society and excelled in his favorite sports, track and footfall. He graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1971, and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Steve's professional career began in insurance sales in Pennsylvania followed by positions in the cosmetics industry, starting with a sales position at Maybelline Company in Northern Virginia. He later was an executive at Maybelline; Schering-Plough in Memphis, Tennessee; Physicians Formula Cosmetics in City of Industry, California; and finally Ross/Tristar Cosmetics in Duncan, South Carolina and San Antonio, Texas.

Steve's calling to full-time ministry came in 1997. He left the corporate world and became the Edification Pastor at Grace Point Church where he was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife have been members of Grace Point for 19 years. Pastor Steve had a hand in creating many of the church's ministries that are in place today. It was a great joy for him to go on various mission trips to such places as Kenya, Honduras and Mexico.

Over the course of eight years on Grace Point staff, he impacted an untold number of people through his gifts of encouragement, teaching, leadership, and pastoring. Following his time at Grace Point, Pastor Steve moved into new areas of reaching the world for Christ through Biblical Leadership for Excellence (BLE) and Marketplace Chaplains. These ministries took Pastor Steve back into the workplace where he led small group Bible Studies, mentored individuals and helped others to live out their personal and professional lives in a Christ-centered manner.

Marketplace Chaplains allowed Pastor Steve to visit with and care for employees of numerous companies in the San Antonio area. Through both these organizations, he was blessed with lifetime friendships and impacted many lives for the cause of Christ. Pastor Steve was also known for his infectious smile, humility, compassion and godly wisdom.

Steve married his beloved wife, Peggy, on October 23, 1971. They shared their love for the Lord and had the privilege and joy of ministering together to people of all walks of life. He enjoyed spending time with his family and "Papa" lit up at any opportunity to be with his grandchildren.

Other things he enjoyed were playing dominoes and other games with friends and family, working up acrostics for any occasion, journaling on a regular basis, handwriting letters of encouragement to others, an occasional round of golf, watching the San Antonio Spurs, studying the Word of God and spending quiet time with the Lord.

In Steve's well-lived life, his guiding principle was "To Know Him, To Make Him Known" as a reflection of his passion for learning and spreading the Gospel. His legacy will continue to grow as he was a faithful servant, a tireless ambassador and soldier for the Lord who invested his life in the service of others for the cause of Christ. He loved God, his wife and family and others unconditionally. Because he displayed the life of Christ, he made those around him better people. By the grace of God, he leaves behind a legacy of hundreds of people who are faithfully serving the Lord.

Pastor Steve is survived by his loving wife of over 40 years, Peggy S. Hart Stoner; son, Timothy Lee Stoner and his wife Lindsay; grandchildren, Hailey and Brendan; mother, Dorothy Stoner; and sisters, Carol Caldarelli and Sandra Knox.

He was preceded in death by his father, "Wib" Stoner.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 11, 2012, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2012

5:00 P.M.

GRACE POINT CHURCH

9750 HUEBNER RD.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

10:00 A.M.

BOERNE CITY CEMETERY PAVILION

700 & 800 BLOCK OF NORTH SCHOOL STREET

Memorial contributions may be made in Pastor Steve's memory to Biblical Leadership for Excellence, P.O. Box 781148, San Antonio, TX 78278; Marketplace Chaplains USA, 2001 W. Plano Parkway, Ste. 3200, Plano, TX 75075; or Grace Point Church, Red Bowl (missions support fund) 9750 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78240.

The memorial service will be lived streamed over the internet on Sunday, August 12, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. CST. For those who are unable to travel but would like to view the service, you may do so at, http://www.ustream.tv/channel/steve-stoner-memorial .