Joel Bailey Stone's Obituary
Joel Bailey Stone was born on November 17, 1936 in Springfield, Tennessee to proud parents Emma Lou Rouse and Thomas Eugene Stone I who both preceded him in death. Joel was the youngest of 3 children having two older sisters Virginia and Celesta. He accepted Christ at a young age and attended the Robertson County, Tennessee schools and graduated from Bransford High School in 1954, where he was a lifelong member of the Alumni Association.
In 1955 Joel went on to join the United States Navy where he would enjoy a long career as an Engineman. During his time in the Navy he was a submariner who served on several submarines on both the East Coast and the West. During this time he hit port in Key West, Florida where he met and married the lady he would affectionately call, “Mama” in the person of Anna Mae Patterson. The couple moved all over the East Coast landing in Chicago, Illinois for a short while and to that union came the first of two children, Thomas Eugene “Tiger” Stone II.
In 1967 the Navy brought Joel and Anna to a place called San Diego, California where the family would plant stakes and call it home. Shortly after arrival came the second child, Julitta making the family complete.
Joel continued his naval career, where he would spend a lot more time under water away from his family but serving his country. In 1976, Joel ended his first career in retirement from the United States Navy as a ENC(SS). He never regretted a moment of time spent in the Navy or under water on those submarines.
After retiring, “Stone” as he was known by many didn’t get enough of the government, he decided to take on the United States Postal Service. He worked many years at station 13 in the Logan Heights area as a mail carrier. He delivered mail proudly and was well loved by all his customers. Stone retired once again with 20 years of service from the Post Office only to take the next 5 years to care for his beloved wife Anna until her passing in 2002.
You would think that after 47 years Joel would sit back in his easy chair and relax. Not a chance, he really got down to what he had done for most of his life and really loved and that was recycling. He recycled before it was popular. Although, he never had an official name for his hustle as he called it, everyone knew, that if you had something that you needed hauled away, scraped, collected, sold or recycled you would call, Joe. Over the years and as he aged he never slowed down or stopped.
Joel was a family man for his entire life, he loved his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids with all his heart and there was nothing that any of them would ask for that he wouldn’t do.
Joel was a mild-mannered man that enjoyed traveling cross country, fishing, Pinochle, Keno and was a wizard at checkers. Although, he was not outwardly religious he was raised by his Grandmother an Apostolic Pastor who instilled the word of God in him.
Joel made sure that as he went around doing what he enjoyed and had several churches in the city that would call on him to help clean up and collect the cardboard after their food ministries. One of his most beloved was New Life Baptist Church under Pastor Troy P Owens.
Joel, passed away peacefully in his residence in San Diego, California on February 28, 2021 at the age of 84.
Joel leaves to cherish his memory his loving son, Thomas Eugene Stone II of San Diego; daughter Julitta Goodner (Robert) of McCordsville, IN; two grandsons, Thomas Timmons (Jasmine) of San Diego, CA and Terry Timmons of Indianapolis, IN; a granddaughter, Jurni Goodner of McCordsville; three great-grandchildren Shilo, Kalique and Zaya Timmons. Those that he loved like his own Timothy Timmons of Fresno, CA; Eldridge Dunmore of El Cajon, CA; Carla Stephens and Krista Denson of San Diego, CA. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from all over the country. Joel was greeted in heaven by his wife of 45 years Anna, both parents Thomas and Emma, both sisters Virginia and Celesta and a host of other family and friends.
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