Brunswick-Commander John Frederick Stone, age 87, of Coach Lane, died at his home of coronary artery disease on March 10, 3013, with his wife Ruth by his side. He was born on August 22, 1925 in Farmington, Maine, the son of Frank and Lillian Stone. He graduated from High School in Jay, Maine in 1943 and entered Bates College. That same year he entered the Navy for flight training and received the coveted Navy Wings of Gold in March of 1946. During flight training as an aviation cadet, he attended DePauw University, University of Arizona, St. Mary's College (CA) and after commissioned, Tufts University for a year as a Holloway Student. While serving as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida, he met Betty Burleson and they were married in 1951. They had three sons. Commander Stone's distinguished Navy flying career included over 7500 hours in 20 different propeller and jet aircraft. The pinnacle of his career came in 1966 when selected as Commanding Officer of Air Anti Submarine Squadron 34 based at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. While in that job he joined an exclusive club of Naval Aviators who have over 500 aircraft carrier arrested landings. Upon his retirement from the Navy as Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, he established Maine Coast Sea Plane Service based on the Androscoggin River. The service operated a Cessna 180 float plane. At that time he and his wife moved to Harpswell, Maine. During his retirement, he was active in his community on various committees as well as being a member of the West Harpswell Baptist Church. Betty, his wife of 31 years, passed away from cancer on November 27, 1982. He remained in Harpswell until this past year when he moved to Brunswick, Maine. He recently married Ruth Holbrook Sligar, a long time companion. Commander Stone is survived by his sister Ethel Swan (Mrs. Colby Swan) of Rockland, Maine; son John F. Stone Jr., and his wife Patti of Arrowsic, Maine; son Thomas Stone of Pensacola, Florida; and son Douglas Stone and his wife Kim of Harpswell, Maine. He is also survived by grandchildren Erik Stone of Rhode Island, twins Michael and Elisabeth Stone, both currently serving in the military, and Grace Stone of Miami, Florida. Visiting hours were held from 6 to 8PM on Thursday, March 14th at Stetson's Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 25th at 2PM at West Harpswell Baptist Church with a reception to follow at Elijah Kelogg Church. Interment at Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta will be held on Tuesday, May 21st at 10AM. The Stone family wishes to thank CHANS Hospice for all their tender, loving care, and would like donations on John's Memory to be made to CHANS, 60 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, Maine 04011. Memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com