Stone
OCALA, Fla. — Gary Preston Stone, 73, son of the late Preston LaFloyd Stone and the late Vannie Griffin Stone, passed away Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Malcolm Randall Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla., after a brief illness.
Stone was born in Waycross, but had lived his childhood and youth on the family farm in Brantley County. He graduated from Brantley County High School in 1970 and was honored as being the first Drum Major of the Brantley County Marching Band.
Stone entered the United States Air Force in October 1971. He left the Air Force in 1980 serving nine years as a Senior Airman, Rank E4, after serving in the United States and Germany.
Stone continued working as an Air Force jet aircraft mechanic at Lockheed in Marietta, Ga., McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, Mo., and Northrop Grumman Aircraft Engineering in St. Augustine, Fla., until 1983 when he moved back to Brantley County.
He moved in the 2000s to Gainesville, Fla., Military Housing until 2023, and from there to Ft. McCoy, Fla., Retirement Home for Veterans near Ocala, Fla.
Stone was an established guitarist and enjoyed singing and playing in the front reception area of the retirement home daily for the residents there. He would also join with the groups that came to entertain at the retirement home, always playing his guitar.
His hobby, in addition to playing the guitar, was watching old western movies on television. He was a member of Community Baptist Church in Waycross.
Stone was preceded in death by his two wives, Mariam Stone and Scarlett Stone; as well as two brothers, Billy Franklin Stone and Bobby LaFloyd Stone; and a sister, Dorothy Sue Stone McQuaig.
He is survived by four sisters, Ethelyn Stone Delcomyn of Waycross, Joann Stone Johns and her husband, Gerald, of Waycross, Mary Alice Stone Chauncey of Jacksonville, Fla., Betty Ruth Stone Meadows of North Charleston, S.C., one sister- in-law, Delphine Stone of Waycross, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral service was held Saturday, September 19, 2026 in the MilesOdum Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial followed in High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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