Ronald Stoneburner

Ronald Nelson “Stoney” Stoneburner was born January 9, 1940 to Clarence and Clara Cline Stoneburner in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

Ron attended schools in Mt. Vernon.  He graduated in 1958.  During his high school years, he was on two undefeated football teams.  He was named to All CBI All Star team 2 times.  His high school coach was Ben Wilson who coached at Wichita State and was killed in the Colorado Rockies in 1969.  Ron was a member of the National Athletic Society and National Honor Society.

In 1958 he came to Colorado to attend Western State College.  He lettered four years in football and one year in track.  He graduated in 1962 with a B.A. and in 1964 with a M.A. degree.  Ron started his coaching career in Gunnison, Colorado in 1962.  In 1964 he coached at Western State as a Grad-Assistant.  In 1964, Ron returned to Ohio to coach 1 year at Northridge High School in Johnstown, Ohio.  In 1965 he came back to Colorado as a teacher and the Assistant football coach at Grand Junction High School.  In 1971 he was named Head Coach at Grand Junction High School.  His record of 49-14-1 is the best in GJHS history.  He won four league championships and was named Coach of the Year three times.  His 1974 team was ranked number 1 by the Denver Post.  He was selected as the National Coach of the Year by the Football Coaches of America and later served as president in 1975.

In 1962 he married Judy Buffington.  In 1978, he married Nadine Myers Arnold.  He is survived by his wife Nadine, two sisters – Shirleen Mooney of Mount Liberty, Ohio and Janice Lower of Lancaster, Ohio; sister-in-law Linda and brother-in-law Don Pound of Idaho Falls, Idaho; sister-in-law Shirley Myers of Eckert, Colorado; son Scott (Bev) Stoneburner of Delta, Colorado; grandson Greg Stoneburner; grand-daughter Kayla Stoneburner; step-daughter Lisa Powers; step-grandson Josh (Tessa) Miller; great grand-daughter Kadence Miller; and Josh’s step-children Colby Sinclair, Helena Sinclair, Shyann Miller and many nephews and nieces.

Services will be held Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 am at the G.J. Municipal Cemetery (first road). There will be a Celebration of Life gathering at the First Presbyterian Church following the graveside service.

Please no flowers, but donations to a charity of your choice, is suggested.