FROME man all his life, Ronald (Ron) Stone, has died at the grand age of 101 years. Since the death of his wife Eileen ten years ago, Ron has lived with his son Peter Stone and his wife Karen and family, and during that time he began to talk about his long life, with much of it now recorded.
Ron passed away on 28th August 2021 at the RUH after a short illness, and on 28th September Russell Short led a rousing service at the Winterbourne Baptist Chapel in Corsley, where Ron himself has preached for many years.
Ron’s five children all paid heartfelt tributes to their beloved father, of going to football, to get lemonade, of seaside holidays, and lemonade, and walks in the country, and many more beautiful memories, before Baptist preacher Paul Oliver gave the address.
Ron was laid to rest to the singing of Amazing Grace, after which, in tribute to Ron’s WW2 experiences a Royal Marine Bugler from HM Royal Marines Collingwood blew the Last Post and Reveille, with Jane Norris from the Frome Branch RBL reading the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph. A Guard of Honour has been formed by members of the Royal Marines Association and Royal British Legion, and Standards were dipped in respect.
Ron’s life was reflected in the service, and by way of tribute Jane and the family have written the following, “Ron was born on November 6th 1919 in Frome. He loved his home town and thoughts of his walks and friends kept him strong even during the worse of the hostilities he would later experience in Burma. Ron was a keen sportsman, playing football, water polo and swimming. He answered the call on March 4th 1940 and went on to serve with 44 Commando in Dakar (West Africa), India and the Burma Campaign down in Arakan and in the infamous Battle of Hill 170.
“While in Burma he received a pen pal letter from a girl in Frome, Eileen, who later became his wife of 63 years. On demobilisation Ron worked in the Butler and Tanner printing works, a job considerably more secure than those previous when he had been dismissed for “cheek” as a butcher’s delivery boy and lost an eye to a cow’s horn when farming.
“Ron only began recounting his memories in public when answering a call in 2015 for 70th anniversary memories of VE and VJ. A man of great faith, Ron preached from the heart. He recalled latterly that when his troop ship came under fire in the Mediterranean he took out his Bible. It fell open on Isaiah Chapter 43 which reads “…When thou passest through the waters, I will be with you….” Strength and comfort came his way all his life.
“Since then he has stood before some 2,000 people at the Frome Remembrance Parade and Service proudly reciting the Kohima Epitaph, in honour of his fallen comrades who never came home.
“Ron was always so proud to have served with the Royal Marines and on his 100th birthday was invited to the Passing out Parade at Lympstone, where he had a fantastic day and was presented with a plaque of the Marine Monument at Achnacarry.
“Granddad, as he was known by all his family, was laid to rest at the Baptist Chapel near Frome. His Green Beret and medals were borne aloft. His ever growing family of five children, eighteen grandchildren and ever increasing great grandchildren will remember him as a man who loved the sky and the stars, who called his loved ones angels. His favourite saying was “Royal Marines, second to none”. Rest easy Marine EX4313 Mission accomplished!”
Submitted by Jane Norris, family friend
