Walter Clifty Stone, better known as “Bo” to friends and family, passed away peacefully, at his home, on Dec. 3, 2023, at the age of 97.
He was born March 3, 1926 and was the son of Walter Celmer Stone and Pearly Estelle Officer Stone.
Bo was raised on a farm in the Cherry Creek community. After graduating high school, in 1944, he was drafted into the United States Army. After “making one crop,” he was sent, in August, for basic training to Macon, Georgia, and later that fall was sent to the German Theater of World War II as part of the 84th Infantry Division. He took part in the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944-1945 and fought in Germany until the conclusion of the war, where he remained until receiving an honorable discharge, in July 1946. After his discharge, he returned to the family farm, on Cherry Creek, and began a lifelong vocation as a farmer and livestock producer. He also worked as an agricultural specialist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for over 20 years until his retirement in the mid-1990s.
Bo served as a White County commissioner and as a member of White County Planning Commission. He was on the insurance board of White County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and Parks and Recreation Board. He also served as an FHA director and as a Boy Scout leader. Bo was an active member of the Church of Christ where he served as a deacon, song leader, and Sunday School teacher.
In addition to his parents, Bo was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Mara Elizabeth Stone; three brothers and their wives, L.D. (Willie L. Bartlett) Stone, J.T. (Margie Brown) Stone, Clayton “Hoss” (Fanny Lou Carter) Stone; three sisters and their husbands, Mary Kate (Mitchell) Merriman, Bonnie (Bill) Kinnaird, Mattie Pearl England; brother-in-law, Bob Brannock; three nieces, Mary Don Prestridge, Connie Griffin, Kim Moore; four nephews, Stoney Merriman, Greg Stone, Gary England, David Kinnaird; a great-nephew, Todd Stone; two sisters-in-law, Paula Young Gillespie, Edna Young Wilhite; four brothers-in-law, Frank Gillespie, Gary Phillips, David Howard, Charles Gore; a niece, Scarlet Howard; a nephew, Joel Davis; and a great-nephew, Collin Wilhite.
Bo is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mildred Young Stone, of Sparta; two sons and a daughter-in-law, James “Bozie” Stone, of Sparta, Kerry (Laura Wilson) Stone, of Chattanooga; three granddaughters, Karson Stone, of Austin, Texas, Olivia Stone, of Sparta, Skyler Stone, of Brentwood; two step-grandchildren, Brett and Angelina Atkins, of Chattanooga; a great-grandson, Denver Stone; one sister, Annie Mae Stone Brannock, of Richmond, Indiana; four sisters-in-law, Barbera Young Phillips, Louise Young Howard, Janet Young Davis, of Sparta, Judy Young Gore, of Watertown; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Wilhite, Bobby Davis, of Sparta; and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, neighbors, and many friends throughout Tennessee.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m., Dec. 9, 2023, at Findlay Church of Christ, with burial in O’Connor Cemetery. The family will receive friends 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Dec. 9, at the church.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
