THOMAS JACKSON STONE, beloved husband of Linda Shelnutt Stone for 49 years, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. He was born on October 7, 1940, in Del Rio, Texas, to Philip Lloyd Stone and Ruby Marie Morris. Tom spent his formative years in Pharr, Texas. When in the eighth grade, Tom won the regional spelling bee and represented South Texas at the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. He started high school at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High and still has many friends in the Valley.
The Stone family moved to El Paso in 1957 when father Phil was transferred to a new position in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Tom finished high school at Ysleta and was the Salutatorian of his class. Tom began his college studies at Texas Western College in 1959 studying engineering. In 1961, Tom was introduced to Linda Shelnutt of Boonville, Missouri, by her uncle who was then stationed at Fort Bliss. On the day Tom met Linda, he told his family that he had met the girl he was going to marry. Tom and Linda were married at Grace United Methodist Church on July 27, 1962. Tom was drafted into the US Army in 1963, and proudly served for three years, including postings at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and in Augsburg, Germany. Tom was honorably discharged from the Army in 1966. Tom and Linda returned to El Paso, where Tom continued his studies, this time in accounting, and at the newly renamed University of Texas at El Paso. He graduated in 1969 and passed the CPA exam in 1971. After working a few years in another firm, Tom started his own private practice in the first of many partnerships that he would form over the next 40 years. Most recently Tom worked in the Jensen Harmon CPA firm with the intention of retiring in the next few years. He was a proud member of the East El Paso Rotary Club for over 30 years, and was honored as Paul Harris Fellow. He loved his work, and in his free time enjoyed reading, traveling and spending time in the outdoors.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Phil and Marie, and is survived by his wife Linda, son Brandon and daughter-in-law Parvin and their children Benjamin and Gwendolyn of Dubai, UAE, and son Tyler of Denver, Colorado. Also surviving are brother George Stone of Denver, Colorado, sister Karin Natowitz and her husband Joseph of College Station, Texas, sister Kristin Hagelstein and her husband Gregg of Fredericksburg, Texas, and sister Mindy Herron and her husband Ken of Humble, Texas, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Tom was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed.
A memorial service is planned for July 27, 2012 at Martin Funeral Home East. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. Please view Mr. Stone’s online memorial tribute and send condolences to www.mem.com
Service arrangements entrusted to the care of FUNERARIA DEL ANGEL MARTIN EAST 1460 GEORGE DIETER DRIVE EL PASO, TEXAS 79936. 915-855-8881. www.martinfuneralhomeeast.com
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