Jeff Kleiner
01-03-2023, 02:08 PM
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=177631&d=1672772407
Many of the long time members of both forums remember Joe Stone, simply known as "Joe", from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area. Sadly I learned over the weekend that he lost his long battle with kidney cancer. We became friends while building our Mk3 Roadsters at about the same time, often exchanging PMs and phone calls. The car was a bucket list item for Joe; he began building shortly after being diagnosed and given a prognosis of less than 5 years back in 2006. He continued working for some time after starting treatment with a goal of retiring from the Arlington Texas police force with a full 25 years. Following retirement and completion of his car he became a hard core road warrior traveling many times to the London Cobra Show and Texas Cobra Club Spring Meet as well as the Factory Five Open House, hitting the Blue Ridge Parkway and Tail of the Dragon. During LCS in about 2011 we hatched the idea of going to the Deep South Cobra Club's Reptile Roundup that Fall, meeting up along the way. I remember him checking the Googles and saying "It's only 1,200 miles. Piece of cake!" We attended together and as we departed Joe commented that he wasn't going home just yet, simply going to explore "parts unknown." As time went on Joe began filling his bucket with other items on his list...Real Estate Investor...Scuba Diver, instructor and charter boat operator...private pilot and plane owner. All this while undergoing treatments. He took a certain satisfaction in proving the Doctors wrong about both the time that he had and what he would be able to do in that time. Joe was a really good man, an inspiration, a proud father and grandfather, a good friend and a merry prankster. The following is the announcement from his family:
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Joseph Dial Stone, 60, passed away on December 28, 2022. After a long journey with cancer, Joe passed peacefully in his sleep.
Joe is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his daughters, Carolyn & Eric Wheeler and Kathleen & Taylor Gauntt with grandchildren Fallon & Stone; his sister, Beth Lewis; his mother, Sue Stone; and multiple beloved family members.
Joe was born in San Diego. His dad was in the U.S. Navy so Joe moved frequently -- went to schools in California, Tennessee, and
Texas. Once he graduated from high school, he ended up in Arlington where he joined the Arlington Police Department. Joe worked in various capacities
from patrol to accident investigation to detective. He also served in the United States Naval reserves . Joe retired from a distinguished career in the Arlington Police Department in 2009 to pursue his dreams.
He became a Master Scuba Instructor, leading thousands of people to enjoy the undersea world that he loved so much. He built a Factory 5 Cobra sports car that won multiple awards at car shows. He also sailed his boat from Kemah, TX to southern Florida and piloted his plane around Central Texas.
Joe fought cancer for several years .. though the cancer and medications made life hard for him, he still kept on going for many years more than what was medically expected. He was an inspiration. Joe’s adventurous spirit will be missed.
The family will hold a celebration of Joe’s life on Sunday, January 8th from 1 to 3 pm at the Southern Oaks Golf and Tennis Club located at 13765 Southern Oaks Drive. We will be in the Garden Oaks room in the Oaks Event Center. We will have appetizers, a brief tribute to Joe's life and an opportunity for guests to share their favorite memories with Joe. We would love to see you there.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
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Rest in peace Joe, you will be missed by many.
Jeff
Many of the long time members of both forums remember Joe Stone, simply known as "Joe", from the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area. Sadly I learned over the weekend that he lost his long battle with kidney cancer. We became friends while building our Mk3 Roadsters at about the same time, often exchanging PMs and phone calls. The car was a bucket list item for Joe; he began building shortly after being diagnosed and given a prognosis of less than 5 years back in 2006. He continued working for some time after starting treatment with a goal of retiring from the Arlington Texas police force with a full 25 years. Following retirement and completion of his car he became a hard core road warrior traveling many times to the London Cobra Show and Texas Cobra Club Spring Meet as well as the Factory Five Open House, hitting the Blue Ridge Parkway and Tail of the Dragon. During LCS in about 2011 we hatched the idea of going to the Deep South Cobra Club's Reptile Roundup that Fall, meeting up along the way. I remember him checking the Googles and saying "It's only 1,200 miles. Piece of cake!" We attended together and as we departed Joe commented that he wasn't going home just yet, simply going to explore "parts unknown." As time went on Joe began filling his bucket with other items on his list...Real Estate Investor...Scuba Diver, instructor and charter boat operator...private pilot and plane owner. All this while undergoing treatments. He took a certain satisfaction in proving the Doctors wrong about both the time that he had and what he would be able to do in that time. Joe was a really good man, an inspiration, a proud father and grandfather, a good friend and a merry prankster. The following is the announcement from his family:
*************************************************
Joseph Dial Stone, 60, passed away on December 28, 2022. After a long journey with cancer, Joe passed peacefully in his sleep.
Joe is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his daughters, Carolyn & Eric Wheeler and Kathleen & Taylor Gauntt with grandchildren Fallon & Stone; his sister, Beth Lewis; his mother, Sue Stone; and multiple beloved family members.
Joe was born in San Diego. His dad was in the U.S. Navy so Joe moved frequently -- went to schools in California, Tennessee, and
Texas. Once he graduated from high school, he ended up in Arlington where he joined the Arlington Police Department. Joe worked in various capacities
from patrol to accident investigation to detective. He also served in the United States Naval reserves . Joe retired from a distinguished career in the Arlington Police Department in 2009 to pursue his dreams.
He became a Master Scuba Instructor, leading thousands of people to enjoy the undersea world that he loved so much. He built a Factory 5 Cobra sports car that won multiple awards at car shows. He also sailed his boat from Kemah, TX to southern Florida and piloted his plane around Central Texas.
Joe fought cancer for several years .. though the cancer and medications made life hard for him, he still kept on going for many years more than what was medically expected. He was an inspiration. Joe’s adventurous spirit will be missed.
The family will hold a celebration of Joe’s life on Sunday, January 8th from 1 to 3 pm at the Southern Oaks Golf and Tennis Club located at 13765 Southern Oaks Drive. We will be in the Garden Oaks room in the Oaks Event Center. We will have appetizers, a brief tribute to Joe's life and an opportunity for guests to share their favorite memories with Joe. We would love to see you there.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
************************************************** *
Rest in peace Joe, you will be missed by many.
Jeff