Joseph Christopher Stone

Joseph Christopher Stone, consummate fisherman, sailor, builder and supporter of all things Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington died at home on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at age 64 after a brief Illness. Born in Wilmington, the son of Joseph Shepard and Elizabeth Cromartie Stone, Chris was raised and lived his entire life on Harbor Island. He graduated from New Hanover High School and attended the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Carrying on his father's legacy, he continued the construction profession. He became a principal in Reagan Construction Company before launching Stone-Montgomery Construction Company in partnership with Robert Montgomery. They have built and renovated hundreds of residential and commercial projects. First an avid Sunfish then Lightning sailor, Chris was a dogged racer as well as regatta organizer and committeeman. He was on the Governing Board of the Carolina Yacht Club. For years, he guided youth at First Presbyterian Church, supervising teen programs and coaching basketball and baseball. He subsequently served on the Board of Deacons. The first Eagle Scout from Troop 232-Little Chapel on the Boardwalk- he continued to be actively involved with scouting. Probably Chris is best known as the go-to waterman. From shrimping as a teen to fishing king mackerel tournaments, he was off shore many weekends, proving his prowess with his catch, then turning those talents into a sumptuous feast from the grill. Like his father before him, he was a keeper of the history and stories of Wrightsville Beach, working tirelessly to insure that a few of the old beach houses were preserved as part of the Wrightsville Beach Museum. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rhesa Reagan Stone and his children Reagan Elizabeth Stone (Billy Sellerberg), Mary Ceille Stone Allen (David), Ellen Shepard Stone Linehan (Collin) and Joseph [Josh] Christopher Stone, Jr. (Kim) and grandchildren Luci and Will Sellerberg, Anderson and Palmer Allen, Aiden, Foster and Izzy Linehan and Charlie Stone. A memorial service is planned for Monday, April 14th at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church followed by a reception in Gilmour Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, Chris Stone Fund, P.O. Box 584, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480.