Jimmy Stone, 87, of Okatie (Sun City), SC passed away peacefully in his sleep on 7 October 2020 in Coastal Carolina Hospital after a two month struggle with respiratory illness and related complications. Although many of his symptoms were typical of a Covid19 infection he repeatedly tested negative for the disease. He is survived by his wife June, son Anthony and daughter Kathryn.
Jimmy was born in Indiana but grew up in the Atlanta area. His father was a minister in the Disciples of Christ church and was a chaplain in WWII. Jimmy was a graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and was an enthusiastic learner all his life. He was a man of perpetual curiosity. Even into his last year he audited courses at USC Beaufort and Technical College of the Low Country, where he felt at home participating in classes with students 60 years younger than him. His interests were broad: from history, to anatomy and physiology, physics and astronomy. Jimmy also loved to travel and took his family on unforgettable vacations in North America, Europe and Asia.
In the 1950s he met the love of his life, June, when they both worked together at Sears Roebuck and Company. They moved around the country with their children as his career in property acquisition for oil companies and a well known regional restaurant chain grew. After early retirement he and his wife June chose to settle down in Sun City and felt at home in the low country.
Jimmy was also a veteran of the Korean War and afterwards continued to serve in the army and air force reserves. When he was younger he also loved to play golf.
With his wife June, Jimmy volunteered several decades for Habitat for Humanity, first helping to build homes for the poor and later serving on selection committees. His last vacation was to Plains, Georgia to visit the boyhood home of Jimmy Carter, someone he admired greatly. He had previously met the Carters at a church service there.
Jimmy and June were regular attendees of Church of the Palms in Okatie. Because of Covid19 restrictions and family distance there will be no funeral, but a small family graveside ceremony later at his final resting place in Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated for the church or Jimmy's favorite charities: Habitat for Humanity, NAMI, UNHCR, Doctors without Borders, and SC Educational Television.
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