Obituary of Mike Stone

Michael W. Stone, 69, of Hopper Hill Road, Troupsburg, NY, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with loving family at his side. Mike was born in Hornell, NY on November 27, 1954, the oldest of nine children of James W. and Joanne Leonard Stone. Raised in Troupsburg, Mike was a 1973 graduate of Troupsburg Central School and a 1975 graduate of Alfred State College where he studied building trades at the Wellsville campus. As a young man, Mike was the lead herdsman for Frank Symonds’ dairy farm in Troupsburg. He eventually was hired by the Steuben County Department of Public Works Bridge crew where he retired after over 31 years of active employment. Mike was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and archery. He was a longtime competitor in archery shoots in the region. He was the founder of the Troupsburg Conservation Club which promoted ecological use of land and water resources in the area. For many years he provided an archery course on his property for those who enjoyed shooting as much as he did. He owned several horses in his younger years and truly enjoyed participating in rodeos. Mike had been involved in the construction of a rodeo ring on the Symonds farm where he was employed. He found the rodeos to be a place to share with his beloved family as they were always in attendance. Even though Mike worked most of his life in bridge construction, the love for farming was never far from his heart. Affectionately known as "Dink" by his close friends and family, there was always a place at his kitchen table to pull up a chair and have a cold one. Mike is survived by his life partner, Denise Socha of Troupsburg, his children, Guy Stone of Hornell and Melinda “Min” Hoyt (Jay Welzel) of Osceola, his grandchildren, Taylor Stone, Geoffrey Hoyt, Rosemary Hoyt, Alyssa Stone and Gage Felix, his step daughter, Stacy (Brian) Oefinger, his step grandson, Ryan Kelly, his siblings, Mark (Jeannie) Stone of Troupsburg, Matthew Stone of Troupsburg, Mary Davis (Bob Lockwood) of Hornell, Kathy (Bill) Waters of Troupsburg, Jean (Doug) Kellner of Cheektowaga, Joan (Tim Dunn) Stone of Troupsburg, Jane (Frank) DiSalvo of Mt. Morris and Kay (Todd) Duvall of Addison, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins including nephew Jeremy Mann and step daughter, Anna Sawyer. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, James and Joanne Stone. Friends are welcome to join Mike's family on Saturday, June 29 at 12 noon at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Troupsburg for a brief cemetery ceremony. A Celebration of Life will follow at Mike's home on Hopper Hill Road in Troupsburg following cemetery services. Arrangements are with the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Woodhull.