John "Jack" Wendell Stone, M.D.

John W.""Jack"" Stone,M.D.,80 Physician John Wendell Stone, one of Lakeland's best-loved and most admired physicians, went home to be with the Lord, following a heroic battle with a cancerous brain tumor on September 10, 2011. Jack, as he was known by his friends, was born on August 12, 1931 in Jacksonville, Illinois to Helen Dial Turner Stone and Paul Wendell Stone. He attended grade school, junior high, and high school in Springfield, Illinois. His parents were educators, his father being a football coach and a school administrator. Jack graduated, Phi Beta Kappa, from Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois, with bachelors' degrees in history and sciences. He completed medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago and interned at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He then received a residency in general surgery, followed by a specialized residency in ear, nose, and throat, and head, neck and facial plastic surgery. He was especially interested in pediatric cleft palate surgery and the families of the patients he served. Jack came to Lakeland in July of 1962 to join The Watson Clinic as their 25th physician and practiced there for forty years before retiring in December of 2002. During those years he served on The Watson Clinic Board, , the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Board, was president of the Speech and Hearing Center in Lakeland, and was a president of the State of Florida Otolaryngology Society. Jack's years of retirement were full of activity and service to others. He served as a deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for 50 years. The Salvation Army of Lakeland became a passion of Jack, where he not only served on the advisory board, but also worked throughout the years in support of their transitional housing program and the Christmas campaigns. Jack was a staunch member of the Republican Club of Polk County and, being a dedicated American citizen, read American history extensively and kept up with politics and current events. Jack developed a deep appreciation of classical music in childhood and attended concerts throughout his life. He was a subscriber and supporter of the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in Lakeland, never missing a concert. Jack and his wife also found trips to foreign countries both fascinating and stimulating. Tennis was Jack's sport of choice throughout the years, playing not only with his family, but also with a "band of brothers," who played together several mornings a week once Jack retired. This camaraderie deepened, and the tennis group, as well as Jack's oldest friends, faithfully and purposefully had lunch with Jack almost daily the eighteen months of his illness. Everyone who knew Jack knew that the love of his life was his wife, Nettie, whom he had known since high school. Everyone also knew that Jack adored his children and his grandchildren and was happiest when surrounded by them all, especially at family dinners. Jack is survived by his wife of 52 years, Antonette (Nettie) Gerster Stone, and his three children, Alice Stone DeMoss (Rusty) of Montgomery, AL, Andrew Turner Stone (Susie) of Lakeland, and Christopher Paul Stone (Julie), also of Lakeland. Jack's six grandchildren are Robert Lee DeMoss III (Tripp), Washington D.C., Andrew Christopher DeMoss (A.C.) of Tuscaloosa, AL, Chelsea Elizabeth Stone, McLean, VA, Jessica Susan Stone, Tallahassee, FL, Jacqueline Hart Stone, Lakeland and Rebecca Marie Stone, also of Lakeland. Jack is also survived by his sister, Joyce Olson of Arlington Heights, IL, two nieces, Kristine Perkins, Arlington Heights, IL and Vicki Karras of Springfield IL, a nephew, Herbert Olson of Chicago, IL and a sister-in-law, Barbara Maupin of Springfield, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be sent to the The Salvation Army of Lakeland, P.O. Box 926, Lakeland, FL 33802-0928, Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823-3229, and First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 A memorial service will take place at First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland, at 2:00PM, on September 13, 2011, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. The family is deeply grateful to the Lord for the life, love, and witness of Jack Stone, and they are also deeply grateful to the many loving friends who have sustained them throughout Jack's illness. Service: 09/13/2011 First Presbyterian Church 175 Lake Hollingsworth Road, lakeland, Florida First Presbyterian Church Visitation: 09/13/2011 First Presbyterian Church