Robert "Chuck" Stone CMSGT, USAF (RET)

He was born on September 11, 1943 in Euclid, Ohio but spent many of his growing up years in Pompano Beach, Fl. He joined the Air Force in 1961 serving two tours in Vietnam where he earned the Distinquished Flying Cross. While in the Air Force he obtained the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant with just over 17 years of service. The positions which he found most rewarding were as a Training Instructor at Lackland AFB and as a Flight Engineer on various aircraft.

After retiring in 1987 with 26 years of service he worked as a Flight Engineer Instructor in the flight simulator at Dover AFB. Several years later he decided to once again fly the airways working for Atlas Air flying cargo all over the world..

Like his father he loved being on the water. He enjoyed boating the waterways near his Homosassa, FL home and pike fishing on Crooked Lake at his Lake City, MI home. He especially enjoyed deep sea fishing with his father in his early years.

He thoroughly enjoyed making walking sticks from wood he harvested by walking the woods in GA, MI, DE and FL. Hundreds of his sticks were sold at Art Shows he participated in each year in northern MI. An article was written about the techniques he used in creating his sticks in a 2017 issue of the Northern Camper magazine where he appeared on its cover.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years Karen (Heater) Stone, daughter Amanda (Richard) Hansard, granddaughters Gabrielle and Claire (Waco, TX), step-mother Susan Stone (Cornelia, GA), brother Benjamin (Regina) Stone (Belton, SC), sister Tami Stone (Kenai, AK), mother-in-law, Betty Heater (Zephyrhills, FL), Sisters-in-law Christine (Karl) Kuenning, Kathy (Mark) DeNise, Karla Graessley and brother-in-law Scott (Carol) Heater, many nephews and nieces, and his furrbaby Tassie.

He was preceded in death by his parents Captain Frederick Stone and Margaret Stone, Father-in-law William Heater and his beloved pets, Triska, Tiffany, Tandy, Tillie, Torrie, Tessie, Trudie, Tandie Laura, Tipsie, Tallie and Timmie.

No services are planned at this time.

Memorial contributions may be to directed in his name to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation 12902 Magnolia Dr, Tampa, FL 33612 or First United Methodist Church Homosassa, 8831 W. Bradshaw St., Homosassa, FL 34448.