Roger B. (Stonie) Stone died on Sept. 22 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital after an extended illness, with his loved ones by his side. He was 83.

He was born Feb. 20, 1925, in Winthrop, the son of Dr. Frederick W. and Harriet Grace (Bagloe) Stone. He was a 1942 graduate of Winthrop High School. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a crew chief and gunner on B-25 Bombers and SB 2C dive bombers.

After the war he met and married Marion Palermo of Saugus; she predeceased him in 2001 after 54 years of marriage. They lived in Winthrop, then moved to West Peabody. During this time he owned and operated Stone’s Atlantic Automotive Service Station.

Roger’s grandparents, Samuel and Susan Stone of Attleboro, were longtime members of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association in Oak Bluffs. While growing up he visited them often at their cottage on Commonwealth avenue, where he developed his love of the Island. Later he and his bride would honeymoon there.

During the 1950s Roger returned to the Island often, to fish during the derby and for family vacations. In 1959 he and Marion and their three boys moved from West Peabody to Vineyard Haven.

He was employed at Dietz and Meekins Garage in Edgartown, then the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard and also Machine and Marine in Vineyard Haven

In 1977 Roger and Marion decided to sell it off, pack it up and move to Hawaii where they lived for four years. The Dillingham Shipyard employed Roger. After leaving Hawaii, they bought a motor home named The Rolling Stone and traveled the country, finally settling in Hilton Head, S.C. They also moved to Ozark, Ala., for a short time before returning North to Cape Cod. They bought a house in Centerville where they lived until Marion’s death in 2001. Roger then moved back to the Island, residing at Woodside Village until the time of his death.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, a hardworking, honest man of integrity and values. He lived his life by the do-unto-others rule. He was quick to make lifelong friends wherever he traveled and was an inspiration to his family and others whose lives he touched. Roger B. Stone was just a nice guy. Those who knew and loved him will miss him.

His brother Ronald B. Stone predeceased him in 1984.

Survivors include Helen Estabrook of Vineyard Haven, his loving friend and companion during his final years; three sons, John Stone and his wife Wendy of Ozark, Ala., Kenneth Stone and his wife Paula of Hartford, Ala., and Barry Stone and his partner and companion Rebecca Cohen of Lambert’s Cove; one niece, Tiffany (Stone) Colon of Michigan; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His funeral service took place on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs, followed by interment with full military honors offered by the Veteran’s of Martha’s Vineyard at Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven.

Donations may be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, 1 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02108.