Obituary of Donald Stoner

Dr. Donald Lawrence Stoner passed away on January 29, 2011. Doctor Don, or Doc, as his softball buddies called him, was born on October 9, 1927 in Tifton, Ohio to Henry Joseph and Marie Collette Stoner, the second of three sons, all doctors. He attended Catholic schools in Fostoria and Cleveland, Ohio, playing football, basketball and baseball. He graduated valedictorian from high school in June 1945. He went on to attend University of Notre Dame, where he was sought after by the football coach to play for the Irish. After one year at Notre Dame, he was drafted into the Army. He trained at Fort Ord and San Diego, assigned to the 2nd Amphibious Brigade. Following the advice of three of his army buddies, he volunteered for the medical infirmary at Fort Ord, getting his first taste of medicine. Being a lover of golf, he took every opportunity to play Pebble Beach with a general or two. In San Diego, he trained for the invasion of Japan and worked establishing a 1,000 bed hospital for head injuries. He was trained to land from an LST following a bulldozer onto the beach and setting up a medical triage station at the beachhead. After graduating from Notre Dame, Magna Cum Laude, he entered St. Louis University Medical School. He graduated in June 1953 and married his high school sweetheart, Alice "Sally" Zeyen five days later. The two next years were spent in St. Louis as an intern and resident at Firmon Deluge Hospital. The last two years of Don's residency were spent at Salt Lake University Hospital studying with Dr. Maxwell Wintrobe, renown for his work in the area of hematology. After finishing his residency, he moved with Sally and his three little girls to Chico. After the time he spent in California in the Army, he wanted to live here. He chose Chico to setup his practice as an intern with an office on the Esplanade. By 1970, Dr. Stoner had focused on Oncology, being the first specialist in Chico. As a member of the Medical Society, Enloe Hospital and Chico Community Hospital, he began the Thursday noon education talks. He was on the Ethics, Library, Education and Finance comities and was Chief of Staff at Enloe. During this time he was also on the State committee to review hospital education programs throughout California. In 1978, he assisted Donna Davis in establishing the first hospice care center in the area, later becoming known as Enloe Hospice. He served as medical director and educator for hospice until his retirement in 1992. In retirement, Don and Sally stayed very active. Don volunteered at the Jesus Center, worked at the Peg Taylor Center, led a discussion group about Socrates and was the librarian for the music at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He played senior softball. Don and Sally loved to travel and annually attended the National Pastoral Musicians conference and the Notre Dame Elder Hostel. Don is survived by his wife of 57 years; eight children and nine grandchildren. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Tadd Selby and Dr. David Potter for their exceptional care of Dr. Stoner during his time of need. A Vigil Service will be held Wednesday evening February 2, 2011 at 8 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 10 a.m. at St John's. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , Enloe Foundation or the Notre Dame School Endowment in care of the Brusie Funeral Home.