Obituary for Karl Stone

Karl Gene Stone

December 14, 1932 – March 18, 2022

Karl G. Stone of Blackwell, Oklahoma entered Heaven with our forever love and his faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the morning of March 18, 2022, at Stillwater Medical Center – Blackwell, at the age of 89 years. His life reflected his love of God, accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior when he was baptized at age 10.

Karl Gene Stone was born on December 14, 1932, in Blackwell, Oklahoma to parents Philip A. Stone and Elsie (Constant) Stone. He attended Westin Country School and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1950. He attended one year at Oklahoma State University.

He married JoAnn Bowling on March 15, 1953, receiving Army draft notice during the Korean War. He trained as an Army aircraft mechanic at Gary Air Force Base in San Marcos, Texas. He was sent to Ft. Knox, Kentucky as Crew Chief of the airfield. He was assigned to airfield tower when his company shipped to Germany, and he was encouraged to apply to officer candidate school.

Home beckoned to Karl and JoAnn following his honorable discharge. Karl attended NOC in Tonkawa, Oklahoma while working at Blackwell Smelter and Foundry.

Their son Jeffrey Blair was born in 1956 and Kevin Greg followed in 1960, and the family moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1962. Karl graduated with his BS degree in Secondary Education and mathematics. The family moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma where he taught math at Chilocco Indian School in Chilocco, Oklahoma.

Karl earned his MS Degree in math at Central State University in 1966. He received an award for “Outstanding Secondary Educators of America” in 1974. Following the closing of Chilocco School in 1980, he taught math at Sequoyah Indian School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma until his retirement.

He became an ordained Deacon in 1976 at First Baptist Church in Newkirk, Oklahoma. He loved teaching math and Sunday school to youth and serving God. He taught Math Lab at NOC in Tonkawa, Oklahoma for two years. He became Deacon Emeritus in 2016 due to health concerns.

Karl and JoAnn moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma in 1999 as family caregivers and rejoined First Baptist Church.

Karl was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jeffrey, and wife Evelyn; a brother, Eric and wife Creasia; and brother-in-law, Delno Crumm.

Survivors include wife, JoAnn Stone; son, Kevin Stone; sister, Laura Crumm; sister-in-law, Linda Rowan; four grandchildren, Tammy Bruce, Amanda Backhaus, Ashlie Stone, Kyle Stone; 14 great-grandchildren, Caden, Kiden, Dakota, Gunner, Harper, Elliott, Brilee, Waylon, Kassidy, Kendall, Jacob, Hunter, Kirstin and Paisley; as well as numerous other extended family members and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Blackwell with Pastor Cody Biby and Pastor Jim Constant officiating. Burial will follow in Blackwell Cemetery.

Honorary casketbearers will be Karl’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the Deacons of First Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church and the Wounded Warrior Project, sent in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.