Richard (Dick) Calvin Stoner

Richard (Dick) Calvin Stoner

Dick Stoner ascended peacefully into Paradise to meet his Lord Jesus on Nov. 29, 2016. He was born on March 5, 1925, in Billings Mont. to Robert and Birdie Stoner. His family moved to Berkeley, Calif., in 1943 where he attended Cal briefly before he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as a mortar-man in the 385th Infantry and was wounded during the Battle of Bastogne. He was protected by God when he was the only survivor of the five brave soldiers in an attack on their foxhole. After the war he attended Fresno State College where he was a member of the track team, led the Rally Committee and served as senior class president. He graduated in 1949 with a BA in psychology. He worked as a counselor and district administrator for the State of California Dept. of Rehabilitation until his retirement in 1977. While at Fresno State, he met Patricia Pinnell. They married and had four sons: Stephen, Jeffrey, Richard and Gerald. He lost his first wife, Pat, in 1984 but was blessed to meet and marry Alice Seely in 1987. They had 26 wonderful years together gardening, traveling and starting “Family Camp” until Alice passed in 2013. He was one of the founders of Senior Softball in Chico, a sport in which he excelled. “Papa” will forever be remembered for his generous heart and sense of humor. He is also predeceased by his brothers Bob and Frank, his sister Esther and his son Gerald. He leaves countless good memories to his sons Steve (Alice), Jeff (Marian) and Rick (Paula), daughter-in-law Wendee, grandchildren Heidi, Eric, Armineh, Amelia, Savannah and Sapphire, and five great-grandchildren. His family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at Roseleaf Gardens for all the good times he had the last 2 ½ years.