Selden Earl Stone Jr.

In the evening of June 13th, Selden Earl Stone Jr., a well-known long-time Yuma resident, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Selden was born in Lenoir, North Carolina Feb. 5, 1923, the son of Selden and Constance Stone.

After high school, Selden worked at the Broyhill factory, and helped with local deliveries at stores in Lenoir. While making a delivery, he met he met his wife-to-be Melba. They were married on November 14, 1942, and were together almost 74 years. Selden was drafted into the Army Air Corps, was selected to be an Aviation Cadet, and graduated from the program as an officer and a pilot. After the war he remained in the Air Force for total of 22 1/2 years of service. He was stationed at Air Force bases from Japan to Spain, retiring while at March AFB California in May of 1965 as a Lt. Col. and settled in Yuma to be near his mother and his sister Frances and brother-in-law Herb Morris, themselves long-time Yuma residents. For the next 20+ years Selden was banker, starting with Bank of Yuma, remaining in Yuma through several bank acquisitions and mergers, ending his banking career as a regional Vice President of Operations with United Bank of Arizona. He enjoying playing golf and was a past president of the Yuma Golf and Country Club. Selden was active member of Trinity Methodist Church and the Optimists' Club, taught banking and finance classes at AWC, and was involved in the Yuma Crossing project, El Torro Foundation, served on both the Yuma and Arizona economic development commissions, was once named Yuma Man of the Year, and was involved in various other civic organizations and activities.

Selden was predeceased by his wife Melba, and is survived by three sons, Selden, Thomas, and Victor, their wives, 11 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be Friday July 15 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Johnson Mortuary. Interment will occur at 10 AM Saturday July 16 at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, with a memorial service immediately following at Trinity United Methodist Church.