Obituary of Denise Stone

Denise (Anderson) Stone was born on February 11, 1932 in Bootle, Liverpool in England, to Elsie and John Anderson. Denise was the youngest of three girls living in a small bungalow in Merseyside. Denise’s father was in the Royal Navy and often at sea, so the Anderson women grew up strong and independent. She passed her “11 plus” examination with honors and was selected to attend Bootle Grammar School for Girls where she played field hockey. During World War II, Denise and her sisters were relocated to the countryside for a time because Liverpool’s maritime port was a prime target for Nazi bombers. After graduating from high school, Denise worked as a secretary on the docks of Liverpool and later met and married the love of her life in a pub frequented by the U.S. Air Force “Yanks” stationed at RAF Sealand in the Wirral, just across the Mersey River from Liverpool. She and Ed (Edward Donald Stone, Dante VA) married at Christ Church in Bootle on August 6, 1955. Together, they traveled the world and were stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC; Scott AFB, IL; Wurtsmith AFB, MI; Charleston AFB, SC; and two tours each in England and Pakistan. Spending time with her family, traveling, reading and raising her two daughters were Denise’s greatest joys. Once her girls started school, she returned to Civil Service and found jobs wherever the Air Force took the family. After retiring from the USAF, they continued to travel within the US and internationally.  In 1999, Denise and Ed moved to Tucson, Arizona, to be near her (then) two grandchildren. Denise loved the Arizona sunshine and mountains and called Tucson home ever since.

Denise passed peacefully on January 20, 2021. She is survived by her daughters Debbie Spohn (Vern) of Green Valley, AZ and Sharon Pudwill (Gary) of Chanhassen, MN, and grandchildren Nathaniel Spohn of Tucson, Elizabeth Spohn of Phoenix, and Elise and Riley Pudwill of Chanhassen, along with beloved nieces and nephews around the world who relished spending time with “Aunty Den”. She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years (Ed Stone), parents (John and Elsie Anderson), her sisters Marjorie (Reg) Simpson and Joan Anderson.

Denise was a loving woman with a laugh and a smile that could light up the room. She loved to host a party, raise a glass and kick up her heels, and easily caught the eye of the small town Air Force Yank in the pub in Liverpool. Denise could strike up a conversation with anyone and would be the first to invite you over for a “cuppa” tea and a shortbread “biscuit”. Though she left England in her early 20’s, she never lost the telltale remnants of her original British “Scouse” accent. Denise was a voracious reader who never turned down a chance to travel or cruise with Ed or a girlfriend – visiting the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Russia, Germany, France, Lebanon, Ireland, Scotland, Costa Rica, Panama, the Bahamas, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Bolivia just to name a few. Denise was kind and generous to all who needed help. She lived life independently and on her own terms. This little girl from Liverpool, England, who married the “Yank” and moved abroad would tell you that she had a good life, she was happy, and that her Bucket List was complete – which is pretty amazing!  As hard as it is to let her go, we know that she is in a better place, that she’s with her adoring husband and extended family, and that we will see her again. Looking back over a life well lived, Denise will be missed terribly by all who knew and loved her. And, her spirit continues to surround and comfort us. 

A celebration of Denise’s life will be scheduled later this year. In lieu of flowers, please donate your favorite children’s book to a local lending library and inscribe it with a positive message encouraging a child to read, learn, travel and dream.