Johnny Lewis Stone

Johnny Lewis Stone, son of Marcus Lewis Stone and Willa Ruth Duke Stone, was born on April 4, 1949, in Fayetteville, Tennessee. He professed his faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Burn Springs Church of Christ in Columbia, TN.

Johnny attended Jones Elementary School and Carver Smith High School in Columbia, TN. He relocated to Cincinnati, OH and graduated from Aiken High School in 1967. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve receiving an honorable discharge in 1974. Johnny received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Microbiology from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Operations Management at the University of Arkansas.

Johnny married Patricia L. Wilkes in 1978, and God blessed this union with one child. Johnny began his career at Shepherd Chemical Company in Cincinnati and later joined the Cincinnati Health Department as an Inspector. When the family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 1982, Johnny worked for Shelby County Health Department as an Inspector. The family came back to Cincinnati in 1986, and Johnny went back to the city of Cincinnati where he worked as a Computer Systems Analyst with the Metropolitan Sewer District. He held this position until he retired.

Johnny loved fishing, especially fishing on the Maumee River in Toledo, OH with his fishing buddy, Kendall Vaden. He loved fishing for bass and salmon. In retirement, he used his love of fishing to develop a sinker that he marketed as Salamander Sinkers. This product led to Johnny receiving the Manny Reward for New Product Development.

Johnny enjoyed bird watching and identifying the many birds that landed in his backyard. He also enjoyed star gazing where he learned to identify the various planets and stars using his telescope.

Johnny was devoted to the Lord and His Church. He served as an eight o’clock usher at Sothern Baptist Church and an ordained deacon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Endeavor Church. He enjoyed leading the Evangelism Ministry and visiting youth at the correctional center trying to help them to get on the right track. He enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher and would spend hours preparing to teach his lessons.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Marcus Lewis Stone and Willa Ruth Duke Stone Braden, his stepdad, William Frank Braden; his brother, Marcus Stone and his brother-in-law, Walter Vance.

Johnny leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 47 years, Patricia L. Wilkes Stone, his son, Jonathan L. (Ryane) Stone; grandchildren, Colin, Sydney, and Emery Stone; his siblings, Sandra Vance, Regina Braden, and Tracey (Greg) Jasper; sisters-in-love, Cheryl Stone, Marilyn Saterfield, Ina Williams and Beverly L. Wilkes-Null (James); brothers-in-love, Clayton Wilkers (Randine) and Curtis Wilkes (Phyllis). He also leaves an aunt, Alice Braden; beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his fishing buddy, Kendall Vaden.

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