RICHMOND, Dec. 18 – Jathan Noell Stone, 78, of Richmond and Andersonville, formerly of Alexandria, died un-expectedly, of heart disease, after a very brief stay at Henrico Doctors Hospital, Saturday, December 13, 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Morgan Stone; brother, Robert Webster Stone and wife, Bess of Martha's Vineyard, MA; and niece, Noell Stone-Thayer of Albuquerque, NM; his special Virginia nieces and nephews whom he cherished as his extended family.

Jake was a native of Roanoke, attended Jefferson High School, and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1952. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and returned to civilian life employed by Newport News Ship-building. After a brief stint at NASA, he began his lengthy career at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C. in the Health Physics Department. When he retired as Head of Safety, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Award.

In retirement Jake enjoyed his new full-time jobs, raking leaves at the Country Place in Andersonville and rebuilding the seawall at the river house in Alexandria. He relished completing the NY Times Crossword Puzzle and never met a paper-back of fiction that he didn't need to add to his collection. With his and Rita's move to Lakewood Manor in 2006, the donation of those books became 'Jake's Book Nook' in Lakewood's library.

Jake could always be counted on to make any conversation livelier. Known for his well-delivered quips, his raised eye-brows and his wry smile, he had the polish of a true Southern gentleman.

A memorial service will be held at the University of Mary Washington at The Jepson Alumni Center in Fredericksburg on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 11 a.m. There will be a reception following the service.

In addition, there will be a memorial service at Lakewood Manor Retirement Community in Richmond on Monday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jathan N. Stone and Rita Morgan Stone Scholarship Fund at the University of Mary Washington, 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401; Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943-0637; or Lakewood Manor Seniorships, 1900 Lauderdale Drive, Richmond, VA 23238.

Woody Funeral Home, Richmond, is serving the family.