Randolph – Doris (Frink) Stone, 102, formerly of Coldspring
Road, and more recently of the Randolph Manor, went home to the Lord on Friday,
December 16, 2022.
Born on August 2, 1920, in the family home in Red House,
she was the daughter of the late Clarence “Mike” and Bessie Fuller (France)
Frink.
Throughout her life, Doris has seen many changes. She went
from living in a world of Model T’s, rudimentary electric fixtures, and no
phones, to space travel, the internet, and smart phones.
Education was always a priority for Doris. Even as a young girl, she was bound and
determined to go to college and become a teacher. She kept her promise to herself and graduated
from Fredonia Normal School in 1940 with a degree in teaching and later
received her master’s degree in Education from SUNY at Buffalo in 1946. Using her degree, Doris first taught in a one
room schoolhouse in Red House and then later embarked upon her 30-year teaching
career at Randolph Central School.
While in college, Doris met her future husband, Robert “Bob”
E. Stone. They were married on November
27, 1947, and started their farm life together on Coldspring Road. After retiring from teaching, Doris and Bob
made many wonderful memories traveling throughout the country. This all ended on a sad day in August of 1984,
when Bob was killed in a horse accident on the farm.
Doris never stopped making memories with her family and
friends. She loved reading and taking painting
and quilting classes with her friends. During
her later years, Doris created beautiful paintings and intricate quilts that will
always be treasured by her family.
She was life-long member of the Fidelity Chapter of Randolph
Order of the Eastern Star, the East Randolph United Methodist Church, the New
York State Retired Teachers Association, and National Education Association.
Doris enjoyed the last years of her life at the Randolph
Manor – a home she loved. The staff
treated her like family, and she enjoyed spending wonderful moments with them
and with her friends. Doris’s family is so thankful for all the love and compassionate
care that she was given at the Manor.
If you were to ask Doris the secret to a long life, her
answer would be to always exercise, eat right, drink tea, and have faith in
God.
Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her
son, Thomas Stone, great grandson, Wyatt Palmer, and two brothers, Donald
Frink, Clayton Frink and Clayton’s wife, Olive.
Survivors include her two daughters, Karolie Lerow (Donald)
and Doneen Nikas; her grandchildren, Jason (Randy) Stone, Tyler (Barry) Stone,
Sarah (Chris) Cranston, Luke (Nadine) Nikas, Karen (Ken) Palmer and Alex
(Brittany) Nikas; great grandchildren, Christopher and Scott Cranston, Eli,
Jack, Claire and Ethan Nikas, Quinn and Vivian Palmer and Calla and Burkley
Nikas; her sister-in-law and best friend, Phyllis Frink; her “adopted
daughter,” Elaine Sluga, who took wonderful care of Mom during her stay at the
Manor; her daughter-in-law, Linda Stone; several step-grandchildren, including Joe
and Matt Crosson; Chuck, Chris and Scott Pontti and Jane Tingley; and several
step-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may call on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, from 10:00
am to 12:00 pm at Van Rensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church Street in
Randolph.
Funeral Services will follow the calling hours at the funeral
home.
Burial will be at Randolph Cemetery, where she will be laid
to rest next to her husband and son.
Reception will be held at the East Randolph United Methodist Church
following the graveside service.
Because of her love of reading, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Randolph Library, 26 Jamestown Street, Randolph, NY 14772.