Col. Tommy C. Stoner, USAF (Ret.)

Colonel Tommy C. Stoner, USAF (Ret.), 82, entered into rest on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Tommy was born on March 11, 1942, in Tuckerman, Arkansas to the late Kermit Byrum and Lois Aline Tucker Stoner. His father, Kermit, was a sharecropper that worked at a service station in the winter to “make ends meet”. Tommy helped pick cotton at .03 cents a pound in order to buy his own school clothes, and until his passing, still had his father’s cotton scales on his back porch to remind him where he came from. He never attended school from September to October until he began college as he had to pick the cotton while it was open.

A highly educated man, Tommy graduated from Tuckerman High School in 1960, earned his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in 1964, and earned his master’s degree from Troy State University in 1976, with his aunt helping to pay his way through college. He was born and lived in the same house until he joined the United States Air Force in 1964. He honorably served for 26 years, retiring as a Colonel. His assignments took him to many interesting places such as Oklahoma, North Dakota, Washington DC, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Labrador Newfoundland, Germany, and Korea. While commander of the supply squadron, he was recognized as the best senior supply officer in Tactical Air Command in 1978, and his squadron was recognized as the best in the Air Force in 1979.  

Tommy’s accomplishments continued beyond the military. He was a member and past president of the Warner Robins Rotary Club for 30 years, a five-time recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Perfect Attendance for 32 years, past member of The Salvation Army, a past member of Red Cross board of directors, and a faithful member of Central Baptist Church for 40 years. In his free time, he was an avid photographer, golfer, and gardener.

In addition to his parents, Tommy was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Julia “Judy” Knopp Stoner and brother, Kermit Byrum “KB” Stoner, Jr.

His memory will forever be treasured by his children, Curtis Blake Stoner (Jane) and Kelly Jo Baker (Brent); and grandchildren, Julia Elizabeth Stoner, Chase Alan Baker, and Keaton Ryan Baker.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home.   A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Central Baptist Church. Later, Tommy will be privately laid to rest in Andersonville National Cemetery, next to his beloved wife, Judy.

The family will accept flowers or donations may be given in memory of Tommy Stoner to the Reach Building Fund at Central Baptist Church, 1120 Lake Joy Road, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 or online at https://centralwr.churchcenter.com/giving

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family.  McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.