Terry Stoneman

Our father, Terry Stoneman was a man of no limits. He was strong, hard working, loving, compassionate, wise, and left this earth too soon. Born in Ivanhoe, VA, to Herman and Gaynell Stoneman (later Gaynell Stoots, wife of Bud Stoots), and was one of five children. He loved growing up in such a small town and we loved hearing stories about “the country lifestyle”. He was an awesome athlete growing up, and ran a 4.5 40yd dash in 1968! He would attend and speak at the sports convention every year, reminiscing about his football days. Dad met our mother Phoebe Stoneman through his best friend Mike Shook, and he eventually became married to her. We moved all over the country with Dad’s job as food and beverage director of Hyatt Hotels. It was Terry and Mike’s dream to raise their families close, so in 1992, we moved to Raleigh, NC so our Dad could start Zipcom, a sister company to Strategic Technologies. After owning Zipcom, Dad decided to re-enter the hotel business and moved to Rocky Mt to become a General Manager of a property. This is where we discovered Dad had colon cancer. He had multiple surgeries, went through rounds of chemo and radiation, and eventually passed due to complications of a surgery. He was known for walking into chemo rooms, or for radiation treatments with such a positive energy that he would brighten everyone’s day and always left them with a lasting impression of strength and courage. It was an untimely death and one that will forever remain heavy on our hearts. We know that cancer did not define our Father, but instead, his will to battle defined him as a hero. Terry is survived by his granddaughter Kemper Stoneman; son, Clay Stoneman; daughter, Kristen Stoneman; sisters, Patsy Mills, Brenda Stoneman-Laffoon, and Judy Stoneman; father Bud Stoots; nephews, Josh Shannon, Mike Shook, Eddie Stoneman, Rickie Stoneman; nieces Penny Stoneman Shockley, Danielle Stoneman, Tina Stoneman, Kristi Hampton and Angie Mills.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to the colon cancer foundation. http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/do-something/fund-the-fight/