Kearfott McCaull Stone of Gloucester, died Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at VCU’s Medical Respiratory Critical Care Unit after a brief illness. He was 11 days short of his seventy-third birthday.
Born in Roanoke in 1945, Dr. Stone graduated from Patrick Henry High School ’63, Hampden-Sydney College ’67, and the University of Virginia School of Medicine ’71. He completed his medical internship at Mercy Hospital, San Diego, and his ophthalmic residency at Emory University; additionally, Kearfott served as a Major in the Army Medical Corps at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, from 1975-1977.
A practicing ophthalmologist for 36 years, Dr. Stone was a founding physician at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital and Gloucester Ophthalmic Associates. He also served as president of the Walter Reed medical staff. Active in his field, Dr. Stone was a past board member of the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and active with the Middle Peninsula Tidewater Medical Society. He loved practicing general ophthalmology, especially serving families; and he was known for having an entertaining collection of toys in his examination rooms for children of all ages.
In addition to his family and his medical vocation, Kearfott loved sailing, music—notably opera, classical, and bluegrass—yoga and traveling, especially an annual excursion to Hawaii. He was an active member of the Ware River Yacht Club and received its Wesley C. Morck Award for service in 2017. Dr. Stone also was a founding member of the Friends of Dragon Run, past advisory member of Chesapeake Bank, and served on the Special Education Advisory Board for Gloucester County.
Singleton United Methodist Church, where Kearfott was a member for 37 years, was a vital part of his life; and he served as choir director for 26 years. He received a service award from the church’s United Methodist Women in 2013.
Kearfott was preceded in death by his first wife, Arena Hunter Stone; father, Dr. Harry Benjamin Stone, and mother, Margaret “Polly” Stone; mother-in-law, Katherine Hunter; brothers, Dr. Harry Benjamin (Ben) Stone, III and Dr. Charles Venable Stone.
He leaves his wife of 20 years, Julianna Gaskin Stone; his children, Sally Stone Richmond and husband Thompson, Hunter Stone and Michelle Alexander, Patrick Stone and Sokmany Yang; two granddaughters, Karena Josephine and Hazel Mahlee, plus many loving “outlaws,” nieces and nephews.
While he will be missed for so many reasons, Kearfott was particularly beloved for his kindness, hospitality, compassion and sense of humor.
The Stone family would like to thank Dr. Ronald Haggerty and Direct Access Internal Medicine for their guidance and support, Mrs. Katherine Haggerty and the physicians and support staff of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital’s ICU, and VCU Health’s Medical Respiratory ICU physicians and staff for their incredible care during this time.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, at Singleton United Methodist Church, 5869 Ware Neck Road, Gloucester, Va. 23061, conducted by the Rev. Calvin Griffin. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, 3098 George Washington Mem. Hwy., Hayes, Va. 23072.
Please consider contributions in Dr. Stone’s memory to the Arena Stone Scholarship (Gloucester High School Counseling Department, 6680 Short Lane Gloucester, Va. 23061); Friends of the Dragon Run (P.O. Box 882, Gloucester, Va. 23061); or Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic (GMCC, P.O. Box 684, Gloucester, Va. 23061).
Please visit www.hoggfh.com to share condolences and memories.