Henry Robert “Bobby” Stone died peacefully in his sleep nine days after his 94th birthday on November 22, 2023.
Bobby Stone was a man larger than life to many people. He was a people person and never met a stranger. He had an amazing and wonderful life which revolved around faith, family, football, friends and fishing.
Bobby was a high school football star for Tifton High School, class of 1948. He was a three sport stand-out playing baseball, basketball and football, where he was honored as an all-district player all four years of his high school career. After high school he had a football scholarship and received Junior College All American honors at South Georgia College in Douglas, Georgia.
After graduation, Stone joined the U.S. Air Force for four years. While in the Air Force, he played in the first football bowl game at Wimbley Stadium in London, England. They played in front of the Queen of England and won the U.S. Armed Forces Football Championship. Bobby was the Team Captain and received the Winners Trophy.
After the military, Bobby found a home at Louisiana Tech University where he earned a Masters plus 30 in Education and played football. He was named to the Gulf States All Conference team as an offensive guard and defensive linebacker in 1955 and 1956. Legendary Louisiana Tech head football Coach Joe Aillet was quoted saying “Stone is a great line-backer. He is good at diagnosing plays; and he is never fooled”. After college, he taught history and coached football and track. He was the head football and track coach for Jonesboro Hodge High School for many years. Later, he served as principal for Union Elementary school and then worked for the Jackson Parish School Board until he retired.
In 2008, Stone was recognized by his peers to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bayou Classic in Monroe, Lousiana, "in recognition of his lifelong dedication to providing a positive influence on high school athletes and students." In 2016, Stone was inducted into the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame.
Football brought Bobby Stone to Louisiana, but the best part was meeting Jane Pittman, his wife of 62 years. Bobby and Jane married and made Jonesboro, Louisiana their home in 1960 and lived there the rest of their lives. After Jane died in 2019, Bobby spent his days going to Jonesboro United Methodist Church, visiting with friends and family plus fishing on Caney Lake.
With the news of Bobby’s death, there have been many comments about “Coach Stone” and the influence he had on so many lives. One former Jonesboro student said “Jane and Bobby Stone cut a big road through here. They are the people we look up to”. Another former student said, “we really love Bobby Stone…many of us called him “Coach” all of his life”.
Bobby was born in Tifton, Georgia on November 13, 1929. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane, and his parents, Sydney and Jack Stone, Sr.
Those left to cherish Bobby's memory are his two sons, Andy Stone and his wife Karen of Brentwood, TN; and Tim Stone and his wife Beverly of Madison, MS plus five grandchildren who call him “Pop”, Katie Stone Walker and her husband, Patrick Walker of Nashville, TN; Drew Stone of Nashville TN; Jackson Stone of Bremen, AL; Ella Stone at University of Mississippi and Emma Stone at Louisiana Tech University (4th generation!) plus Bobby's brother Jack Stone, Jr. and his wife Ann of Tifton, Georgia and nieces and nephew, Jan Massey; Pat Stone; Gayle Short and their families; and many friends.
A graveside funeral will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Tifton, Georgia on November 30, 2023 at 10 AM The Reverend John Hughes will officiate. A Celebration of Bobby Stone's Life will be held in Jonesboro, Louisiana at the Jonesboro United Methodist Church on December 14, 2023. Visitation with family and friends will begin at 10AM and the presentation will begin at 11AM. The Reverend Randy Dark will officiate.
The family asks that any donations be made to the Jonesboro United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 156, Jonesboro, Louisiana 71251.