Ronald Stoner Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ronald Stoner, 78, loving grandfather, father and husband, was born in Hershey, PA and peacefully passed away in his home in Knoxville, TN with his wife, Sandra at his side. Ron grew up in Campbelltown, PA with his parents, Clair and Winnie Stoner and many aunts, uncles and cousins. As a boy, Ron enjoyed riding his bike and playing barefoot in nearby woods. Ron went to Hershey High School, Hershey Junior College and Penn State. After graduating from Penn State, Ron followed his love of airplanes to enjoy a career in aerospace with jobs at General Dynamics Convair in San Diego, CA in the aeroballistics department and later in the aerodynamics department. Ron also worked on a special airplane project at Rohr Industries in San Diego which was a pet project of chairman, Burt Raynes. While working at Convair, Ron met a computer programmer, Sandra Yoshihara, and they were later married in San Diego in 1973. Ron and Sandy have been married almost 48 years. Their son Jeffrey and daughter Debbie were born in San Diego. When in San Diego, Ron was active in flying gliders and snow skiing. Ron and Sandy enjoyed traveling around the US, Japan and Europe. In 1981, Ron’s family moved north to the Seattle area where Ron worked at Boeing as an aerodynamics engineer designing airplane wings until he retired in 2004. While living in the Seattle area, Ron and his family enjoyed camping, building sandcastles and flying kites along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Ron also became interested in Cajun music and learned to play Cajun accordion and fiddle. While in Seattle, Ron formed a Cajun band, Jamais Trop Tard (It’s never too late) that played in coffee shops and outdoor festivals in the Seattle area. Ron experienced great joy in playing music on bass guitar with other people and often went to Cajun music camps in Louisiana and West Virginia with wife Sandy. He played music with musicians from all over the US and some parts of Europe. In 2014, Ron and his family moved to Knoxville, TN to be close to daughter Debbie and her family. In Knoxville, Ron played fiddle and accordion with an old-time jam group. Ron and Sandy enjoyed traveling around the East coast, exploring different areas, birdwatching, going to Bluegrass festivals, Oktoberfests and playing music. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Clair Stoner (father) and Winifred Stoner (mother). Ron is survived by his wife, Sandra Stoner, son Jeffrey Stoner and his wife Eileen, daughter, Deborah Abel and her husband Steve. Ron is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Tomio (11), Sachio (8), Zoe (7) and Lily (5). Condolences may be extended to www.rosemortuary.com Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Tributes

Ronald Stoner

January 24, 2021