Gloria Roberta Stone

Gloria Roberta Stone, 89, passed away peacefully in the presence of family members at Life Care Center (Port Orchard, WA) on
July 27, 2014. Her passing left the world a poorer place for the many family members and friends who knew her. She leaves behind two daughters: Sandra Barry (Bob) of Bremerton and Pamela Otto (Gail) of Gig Harbor. Grandchildren include Samantha Klump (Gary), Kelli Williams, Amanda Estabrook (Mike), Gwen Barry, Janice Gamache (Paul), Cheryl Dean (Jacques), and Natalie Yoder (Dan). She was also very proud of her 13 great grandchildren. Additionally, she is survived by a younger sister, Joan Widell of Hanford,CA and sister-in-law, Kathryn Inman of Kerrville, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Bill Stone, an infant daughter, Linda Ann Stone, and a sister, Katherine Holcomb.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Bible Church (Port Orchard, WA) on August 29 at 5:00 PM.
Gloria was born in Bremerton, WA on August 6, 1924. She graduated from Bremerton H.S. in 1942 and soon was working as a teller at the National Bank of Washington in downtown Bremerton.
It was love at first sight when Gloria met a young sailor from Texas while roller skating at a local roller rink. William G. “Bill” Stone was a 22 year old assigned to the USS Saratoga and on shore leave at the time. When Bill returned to operations in the South Pacific, they maintained written correspondence for many months until Bill called her at work one Friday afternoon to ask if she still wanted to get married. She obviously agreed because he arrived the next day from California. They were married at the P.S.N.S. Chapel over the weekend. Gloria and Bill left on a train for California to his duty station on Monday, then she returned home. According to Gloria, it was several months later before she saw him again in Key West, FL, where he had asked her to move, anticipating future shore duty.
Linda Ann Stone was born in April of 1945. Bill was on a military training flight and could not return to the hospital in time for the birth. She only lived several hours and neither Bill nor Gloria were able to hold their first daughter.
Sandie and Pam arrived in 1947 and 1948, respectively. Gloria was a nurturing mother and very active in the Girl Scout program as a troop leader for her daughters and their friends. She had been active in Scouting as a child. Gloria was very proud that her extended family, which included her parents, two sisters and their husbands, and her own family were awarded recognition as the Totem Council Family of the Year for 1960. During the high school years of her daughters, Gloria was co-leader with Bill in the “Wing Scout” program.
Because she was always an at home mother, Gloria always found time for her daughters and grandchildren allowing them all to grow very close to her warm and loving personality. She was a dedicated homemaker who loved to embroider and enjoyed gardening.
Her baking skills were renown. She taught family members to bake her famous French Apple and Lemon Meringue pies. Lemons were shipped annually from friends in CA to satisfy the need. In later years, on Gloria's birthday, she traditionally taught chosen family members how to prepare boiled icing for chocolate cakes. Her delicious “quick breads” were always popular at family and social events.
Gloria and Bill were perhaps best known for their love of, and involvement in local, state, and national square dancing. They were unequaled and inseparable when it came to square and round dancing. Drawn into square dancing by initially supporting their daughters as they danced, Gloria and Bill became teachers of square and round dancing as well as callers/cuers themselves. They taught at all levels, beginner through advanced, and introduced literally hundreds of people to the fun of dancing. Gloria supported Bill as he recorded many records for the High Hat, Blue Ribbon, and MacGregor record labels. Together, they participated in and started numerous square dance festivals and camp outs in the State of Washington as well as organized many Reno bus trips for square dance groups. Whenever asked, they participated in out-of-state activities, putting thousands of miles on the motor home Bill gave her as a Christmas present. Gloria was Bill's partner, wife, and support as Bill called in many states of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.
Square dancing was Gloria's life. They both always believed that square dancing was a family activity worthy of their support. Gloria was the long-time treasurer for the Kitsap Square dancers Association. Other memberships included Peninsula Callers and Cuers and Rainier Callers and Cuers. Their crowning achievement was receiving the coveted Parker Award in 1991, a state level award recognizing excellence in the teaching and promotion of the art of square dancing.
Gloria Stone had a larger than life positive personality. She loved Jesus and was the ultimate warm hug, welcoming all into her presence. She will always be remembered and loved by those fortunate enough to have experienced her in life. Her family knows that she and Bill are dancing in heaven with Linda, the daughter they never knew.
Having faithfully supported and encouraged a husband during his 31 year military career, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to a military veteran's organization of your choice.