Ralph Oril Stone

Funeral service for Claremore resident, Ralph Stone will be 10:00 am Thursday, October 3, 2019, at MMS-Payne Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Rick Burke. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, October 2, from 1-8 pm, with family greeting friends from 6-8 pm. Ralph passed away in Tulsa on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the age of 92.
Ralph Oril Stone was born to Dewey and Hattie (Phillips) Stone on September 14, 1927, in Henryetta. For the first few years of his life, his family lived on a farm in Okemah, Oklahoma, later moving to Claremore, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. He learned to milk a cow at the age of 5 1/2, and began plowing with a one-horse plow a few months later. He began his schooling at Hiawatha school, which was a walk of 1 1/2 miles from his family's farm. Eventually, the family moved to a house on Dorothy street, and Ralph attended Claremore schools, graduating with the class of 1945. Ralph remembers walking to the dedication of the Will Rogers Memorial in 1938, where the top act to perform was Bob Hope. He failed every semester of typing in high school, but made a perfect score on his typing test when he entered the army. 1942 was his last year to play high school basketball, and his team had a perfect season, with no losses.
After graduation, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army, taking his basic training at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. After a short visit home, he traveled to Staten Island, New York to board his ship. The ship set sail for Italy with 2,100 soldiers on board. When his military service ended, he returned to Claremore and began working for the U.S. Postal Service in March of 1949. He retired from there in March of 1983, after 34 years of service. Combined with his sons' careers, they carried mail a total of more than 100 years.
While delivering mail in downtown Claremore one day, Ralph spotted Ruth Downing. He soon found out her name from a friend, who set up a double date. The rest, as they say, is history. They were married in July of 1953. Their union was blessed with two sons in 1954 and 1958 they were lucky enough also to gain two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Ralph enjoyed many years of watching his sons grow, and play sports and musical instruments. He also got to enjoy following his grandchildren's activities and was an active follower of Zebra and RSU sports for many years.
In his spare time, he enjoyed just going places and meeting people. He enjoyed many shows an in Branson and was always up for a concert. One person who enriched his life and took him on many outings was his senior companion, Willard. Ralph enjoyed going along on real estate appraisals with Gary and drives around the area with Ross until his recent illness sidelined him. He was a resident of Brookfield Assisted Living Center until his passing. He was also the founder of ROSCO Fun Center.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ruth, and siblings Dewey, Jr., Leonard, and Hazell.
Survivors include his sons Michael "Ross" Stone and wife Ruth, Gary Lee Stone and wife Mendy; grandchildren Doug Stone and wife Ashley, Greg Stone and wife Sarah, Jeff Stone and wife Marlene, Amanda and husband Ross, and Brett Stone and wife Lindsay; great-grandchildren Tate, Max, Mia, Brynn, and another on the way, and sisters, Gladys Mason and Opal Watts.
In Lieu of flowers family requests that you make a donation to the charity of your choice.
View and sign Ralph's online memorial at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com .