Ronald Paul Stock died peacefully at home on Jekyll Island on January 1, 2024. He was born on December 24, 1936, in Batesville, Indiana the son of Paul H. Stock and Alma Schulte Stock. He grew up in that area and after attending his freshman year at St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati OH, graduated from Batesville High School in 1954. Ron spent a year at Purdue University and then enlisted in the Army where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division and with the 24th Infantry Division in Korea. In 1958 he was selected from the ranks for an appointment to U. S. Military Academy at West Point. It was during his final year at West Point that he met Mary Lincoln, the love of his life, at the Harvard Debate Tournament. Upon graduation in1962 he received a commission in the Air Force, was assigned to SAC 15th AF and started his career in Intelligence and Special Operations. In 1964 he married Margaret Mary Lincoln and shortly thereafter had his first assignment to Vietnam. That was followed by assignment to the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC. While assigned to DIA their two sons were born. Ron also earned a master’s degree in government & politics from the University of Maryland during this period. In 1970 Captain Stock was assigned as an assistant military attaché to the Soviet Union and the whole family moved to Moscow. Upon his return to the states Ron was assigned as an Instructor to the Special Operations School at Hurlburt Field Florida. After a 2nd tour to Southeast Asia with JCRC, Ron returned to the Special Operations School for his last assignment before retiring.
Upon retirement from the military, Ron spent a year as assistant to John Hillenbrand II during his winning primary campaign for Governor of Indiana, and then ten years as Program Development Manager and Director of Training at Hillenbrand Industries. In the 1990’s Ron worked with several businesses of which he was owner or part owner – Counterforce Technology, Selection Management Systems, and RPS Rental Properties in Cincinnati, Ohio and Fersto Corporation (Bandbox Cleaners and Skeffington’s Formalwear) in Batesville, Indiana. He also was on the Holy Family Parish Council and Finance Committee. In 2000 Ron and his wife Mary spent a year as missionaries teaching in Papua New Guinea.
After moving to Jekyll Island Georgia in 2002, Ron served as a Parish Council Member and Finance Committee Chairman for St. Francis Xavier parish in Brunswick, as a board member for seven years and three years as President of the Friends of Historic Jekyll Island. He also served as President of the Jekyll Island Men’s Golf Association, the Paupers Dinner Club and for ten years as Jekyll Island Republican Party Precinct Chairman. Ron and his wife Mary were avid travelers and continued to travel the world from their Jekyll Island base having visited more than 100 countries during their travels.
Ron is survived by his two sons, Adam (Teri) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Mark (Elizabeth) of South Bend, IN, 3 grandchildren (Reese Stock, Sarah Stock-Jimenez, Austin Stock,) and 3 great grandchildren (Bryce Stock, Mason Stock, Margaret Stock-Jimenez). He is also survived by 2 brothers Bernard (Birgit) Stock in WV and Milton (Sharon) Stock in Oldenburg, IN. Ron was preceded in death by his spouse of 56 years Mary and his grandson Paul.
Ron will be laid to rest at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in ceremony later this year at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers or other offerings, contributions may be made to the Street Beat Program of the Safe Harbor Children’s Center in Brunswick, GA (in memory of Ron’s wife Mary Stock and their deceased grandson Paul Stock.)