George C. Stone III, engineer and resident of New Canaan for 60 years, died at the age of 95 on Sept. 6, 2016.
He was born in Pawling, N.Y. on Jan. 17, 1921, with a twin sister Mary Louise. Along with younger brother Charles, the family was raised on a dairy farm in Pawling.
Schooled in Asheville Academy, N.C., George ran cross-country and sang in the choir. As an engineering student at Lehigh University, he continued running cross-country and was manager of the choir.
George joined the Army Air Corps and served instructing flight engineers in B-29 Bombers while stationed in Florida during World War II.
George began employment with National Carbon Company in Cleveland, Ohio. There he married Jane Gray, and together they had two sons George III and Gordon. Jane’s life ended suddenly in a car crash.
He was a single father with two young boys when he met and married Kathleen Murphy. A job transfer took them to Vermont, where they lived in Bennington and St. Albans. It was there that their daughter Mary Ellen was born. Taking advantage of Vermont winters, George taught the family to ski and was a ski patrolman. He was then transferred to New York City and settled in New Canaan where a fourth child, William, was born.
George’s enjoyment of outdoor sports was shared as a family with ski trips topping the list. He also had a true passion for fly fishing. With his brother Charley, they traveled to waters across the globe for trout and salmon including Alaska, Iceland and Labrador.
Retirement gave George even more time to follow his adventurous outdoor spirit, and take up new challenges like windsurfing. Active with the New Canaan Nature Center, he was often hiking, bird watching, studying wildflowers and mycology. As a cross-country skier, he became an Eastern Professional Ski Touring Instructor. George had a true passion for learning and sharing with others.
He was very widely-read and enjoyed the Senior Men’s Club and classical music. Together George and Kathleen were active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and George served as an usher for many years while Kathleen sang in the choir. In addition, he always helped with the annual St. Mark’s May Fair.
George is survived by sons George III (Deborah) Stone of West Bend, Wis., Gordon (Jennifer) Stone of Waterbury, Vt., daughter Mary (Jim) Allen of Lander, Wyo., grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, William Stone.
A service will be held for both George and Kathleen at St. Mark’s Church on Nov. 12. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s music fund.
