Herbert Stoner

Herbert Ray Stoner, 86, of Amarillo went to be with our Lord on Sunday, April 28, 2019.

Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Schooler Funeral Home 4100 S. Georgia St.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at St. Paul United Methodist church with the Rev. Bill Ivins and Rev. Perry Hunsaker officiating.  Graveside services will be held at the New Gordon Cemetery in Gordon, TX on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Herbert (Herb) was born on February 5, 1933 in Gordon, TX to WC Stoner and Myrtle Tilghman Stoner.  Myrtle died when Herbert was 6 months old and WC married Louise Jones Stoner a year later.  Herbert had one older sister, Syble, and two older brothers, Calvin and Herman.  WC and Louise had two other sons Jimmy Don and Mike to complete their family.

Herb was raised in Gordon and graduated from Gordon High School in May 1951.  He joined the Navy shortly after and served in the Korean War for four years aboard the USS Henry W Tucker.  In February 1952 he came home on leave and married his high school sweetheart JoAnn Kemp on February 5, 1952 (his 19th birthday).  Three days after the wedding he was sent back to Korea.  After 6 months at sea he returned to JoAnn in California and they began their 67 year marriage.  They enjoyed numerous trips around the country over the years reuniting with shipmates.  In October 2012 Herb was invited to go to Washington D C on the Panhandle Veterans Honor Flight which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, Herb attended Tarleton State College then transferring to Texas A&M.  He graduated in December 1958 with a degree in Agronomy.  Herbert then began a successful 30 year career with the US Department of Agriculture.  He began his career in Big Spring, TX with the Soil Conservation Service.  The family moved to Amarillo in January 1974 where he became the district conservationist.

Herb enjoyed spending time with family and friends playing golf, cards, dominoes, and watching sports.  He also enjoyed many years of square dancing that created lifelong friendships.  In his spare time he enjoyed wood working in his shop.  Herb has been an active member of St Paul United Methodist Church since 1974.

Herbert is survived by his wife JoAnn and his three children, Wendell Stoner and fiancée Toni Sargent, Lisa Stoner Chambers and husband Randal, and Chris Stoner and wife Connie.  He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Sean Chambers (Julie), Clay Chambers (Amanda), Cody Chambers, Kyle Stoner (Jean), Amanda Kucmoud (Matthew), Stephanie Rothwell (Bryan), Cristal Robinson (Matthew) and Rebekkah Stoner.  He loved his great-grandchilden, Lainie Chambers, Brock Chambers, Jackson Chambers, Beau Chambers, Averi Chambers and Seldon Robinson.  Herbert is also survived by his 102 year old mother Louise Stoner (Mama Lou to most of us) and brothers Calvin, Jimmy Don and Mike as well as many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heroes for Hope which is a nonprofit organization for childhood cancer patients or your favorite charity.