William “Bill” Stone, aged 79, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 11, 2021. He was born on July 8, 1941, in Aberdeen, Washington, the second son of Grant and Winifred “Winnie” (Wynn) Stone.

A native of Grays Harbor, over the years the family had homes at Artic (Stone’s Highway Service), Aberdeen (Boone St. Service), and Hoquiam (Stone’s Cafe and Paint Shop).

He graduated from North River High School in 1960.

From childhood Bill was a lover of the outdoors and an avid hunter. He played guitar in the early ’60s with local band The Pulsations, and later in life played bluegrass with his wife Daleanne and friends Will and Anne Werre in the band No Class Bluegrass.

Bill spent a short time in the early ’60s working at West Coast Plywood. In 1964 he joined his dad at Stone’s Paint Shop painting cars and trucks and doing body and fender work, which would become his lifelong profession. In the mid ’70s he went to work for FG Peterson Trucking and enjoyed 12 years there, making lifelong friends of many of his co-workers.

In 1964, he married Daleanne Dillard, making a home in Cosmopolis together with her until his passing.

Along with hunting, he enjoyed target shooting, and was a member of the Grays Harbor Rifle and Pistol Club. His other lifelong hobbies were music, guitar and songwriting. In the mid-’80s he became a great fan of bluegrass and loved being a part of the NW bluegrass community until the end of his life. He was a member for many years of the Washington Bluegrass Association.

Bill loved life and his family and the countless number of friends he made throughout the years.

In later years, his happiest times were spent with loved ones reminiscing about all of the great times they’d shared.

He is preceded in death by his parents Grant Stone and Winifred (Wynn) Stone, and his brother Robert “Bob” Stone.

He is survived by his wife Daleanne and their children: Polly Stone and Donald “Don” Stone (Valerie).

A gathering to celebrate Bill’s life will be planned when it is safe to gather again.