Betty Darolene Tennant Stoner

Betty Darolene (Tennant) Stoner, 94, of Macon, GA, passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Betty was born at her home in Galion, Ohio to Duane Tennant and Evelyn (Roehr) Tennant on September 22, 1928, and grew up there. Her parents divorced when she was 11 and her mother married her stepfather, Mervin Presler. She was the wife of George H. Stoner (deceased), also of Galion.

Mom’s story is a simple and humble one. When she was 12 or 13, she went with her grandparents on a cross-country trip to the west coast – helping to drive along the way. “That was when there were two-lane roads and no traffic like today,” she said. She started dating her future husband in 9th grade and they were high school sweethearts. After graduation in 1946, he joined the Army Air Force and was in the Ground Control Approach. They married in August 1948 and in early 1949 he got a medical discharge. “If he hadn’t, he would have made the service his career and our two children would have been army brats,” she said. They moved to Cleveland so dad could attend Case Institute of Technology, where he earned his degree, and she received a certificate from the institute for her role in helping him achieve it. She also worked as a Cost Clerk. Shortly after graduation, he transferred with his company to Chicago, where their two children were born. He changed jobs in 1970 and they moved back to Cleveland to be near family.

Dad passed away in 1991 after a long battle with cancer, during which mom was at his side with strength and hope. “He and I were both proud of our children and what they’d accomplished,” she said. “Geoff never married but Candy gave me two great twin granddaughters. Unfortunately, George didn’t live to see them. If he had, we’d have been in the poor house at Christmas as he went all out for our two when they were young.” Mom stayed in Cleveland until 2016 when she decided to move to Georgia to be close to Candy and her family.  Geoff lived and worked in New Jersey for 20 years and when he retired, she “talked him into” moving in with her. He passed away in July 2022.

She is survived by her daughter, Candy Townsend Purvis (Charles) of Dublin, Georgia; granddaughters, Emily and Hannah Townsend of California; two nieces, Lisa France (Jim) and Sara Stoner; two nephews, Lane Heist and Kyle Stoner (Fawn) and her Pinegate Independent Living community friends and family in Macon, Georgia.

In writing these final words she said, “Be sure to add I am so proud of the twins and loved you all so much.”

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or ASPCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s on Cherry Street, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 765 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 has charge of the arrangements.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/

ASPCA
P.O. Box 96929, Washington DC 20090-6929
Web: https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-gn-sl-tb-p1?ms=MP_PMK_Googlebrand-P1SL&initialms=MP_PMK_Googlebra