A sail-by in memorial of Chris Stone will be held Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at the Carolina Yacht Club soundside. Born Joseph Christopher Stone, the sailor, fisherman, professional builder and supporter of all things Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington passed away at home April 10, 2014, at age 64 after a brief illness.
Born in Wilmington, the son of Joseph Shepard and Elizabeth Cromartie Stone, he was raised and lived his entire life on Harbor Island. He graduated from New Hanover High School and attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Carrying on his father’s legacy, he continued the construction profession. He became a principal in Reagan Construction Company before launching Stone-Montgomery Construction Company in partnership with Robert Montgomery. They have built and renovated hundreds of residential and commercial projects.
First an avid Sunfish then Lightning sailor, Stone was a racer as well as a regatta organizer. He was on the Carolina Yacht Club governing board. For years, he guided youth at First Presbyterian Church, supervising teen programs and coaching basketball and baseball. He subsequently served on the First Presbyterian Church Board of Deacons. After becoming the first Eagle Scout from Troop 232 at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, he continued to be actively involved with scouting.
Stone is best known as the go-to waterman. From shrimping as a teen to fishing king mackerel tournaments, he was offshore many weekends, proving his prowess with his catch and then turning those talents into a sumptuous feast from the grill. Like his father before him, he was a keeper of the history and stories of Wrightsville Beach, working tirelessly to ensure that a few of the old beach houses were preserved as part of the Wrightsville Beach Museum.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rhesa Reagan Stone, and his children Reagan Elizabeth Stone and husband Billy Sellerberg; Mary Ceille Stone Allen and husband David; Ellen Shepard Stone Linehan and husband Collin; Joseph “Josh” Christopher Stone Jr. and wife Kim; and grandchildren Luci and Will Sellerberg; Anderson and Palmer Allen; Aiden, Foster and Izzy Linehan and Charlie Stone. — Cole Dittmer
