Barbara Stone, age 87, and long time Oak Ridge resident, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, at Methodist Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 17, 1926 in Saginaw, Mich., where she grew up. During her high school years, she worked part-time manufacturing anti-aircraft shell triggers to support the war effort.
She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Goodman Theatre School in Chicago with a year at the University of Michigan to obtain the academic courses required for her degree. She graduated in 1948, and later that year moved to Oak Ridge to marry Robert Stone as he began his career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Barbara was active in a number of community affairs. She and her husband were charter members of the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church, and when the Oak Ridge congregation found its own minister, the Oak Ridge Unitarian Church.
Barbara was an active volunteer with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and in religious education at the church. Later, she worked as an instructor for adult basic education classes, first as a volunteer, and later as a paid professional. She served on the ORCMA board, at one time being in charge of the ORCMA Belle program for teen girls, and was active in ORCMA Guild for many years.
She is predeceased by parents, John Waldo Furstenberg and Ruth Richardson Furstenberg; close uncle and aunt, Earl and Adelaide Potter; and son Thomas Richardson Stone. She was also predeceased by in-laws, Betty Stone Rima and John Stone.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Robert Stone; and by daughter Robin Stone and her husband John Vanlandingham; grandchildren, Margie Vanlandingham Hays (Greg), and Phillip Vanlandingham; and great-grandchildren, Meggie Hays and Pierson Vanlandingham. She also leaves her siblings, Marcia and Dale LaForrest, Alice Ray, and John and Nancy Furstenberg, and many loved nieces and nephews.
There was a receiving of friends at 2 p.m. Monday, March 17, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830; Cancer Research Institute, 55 Broadway Suite No. 1802, NY, NY 10006; or to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, 395 Belgrade Rd. Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
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