Verna C. Stone's Obituary
Verna Charlene Stone, 96, of Newark, California, passed away peacefully at home on February 22, 2026, with her daughter Theresa by her side. Verna was a resident of Newark for fifty-seven years.
Known as Charlene or Sissy to her family, she was born in Shep, Texas to Monta “Monk” Ruben Robinson and Clara Anne Bowen Robinson. She was the eldest of six siblings. When Charlene was three years old, the family moved to Kern County, California where she grew up on a farm in rural McFarland.
After high school she attended nursing school in Long Beach, CA where she met and married Walter Miller. After their fourth child was born, she devoted her time to being a stay-at-home mother. Walter and Charlene were later divorced, after which she remarried and widowed three times.
While very young, Charlene accepted Jesus as her savior. She met and married her third husband, Chuck, in the Baptist church that they both attended.
Verna worked at the Alameda County Department of Social Services for 25 years before retiring as an Eligibility Supervisor in 1992. During her time with the county, she was known as Verna Woods.
After retirement, she spent a few years doing volunteer work in the city of Newark, where she was once voted Volunteer of the Year.
Verna was passionate about reading and had an enormous personal book library of multiple genres. She had a green thumb and could grow anything from plants and flowers to fruits and vegetables. She enjoyed watching westerns on TV. Gunsmoke, Rifleman, Bonanza, and anything with John Wayne in it were among her favorite shows. British television mysteries were also a favorite. Verna was a wiz at embroidery and needlepoint and often worked on projects as she watched television. Her favorite beverage was diet Pepsi, potato chips were her favorite snack, and her favorite meal was biscuits and gravy.
She had a unique ability to make everyone around her feel special and loved. She was kind, thoughtful, and she was generous with her time and resources, often opening her home to those in need of shelter and support. Verna was a friend to all who knew her.
Verna is survived by daughters Theresa Miller of Newark, Ca., Cathy Doub of Lake Isabella, Ca., Chris Huperz of Klamath Falls, Or.; grandchildren David Miller of Bella Vista, Ar., Cheryl Mitchell of Fort Bragg, Ca.; great grandchildren, Xavier, Reese, Adaliese, Kim and Jon. Survivors also include 8 nieces, and 4 nephews as well as three very special people: LouAnn Clifford and Larry Gates, who she loved as her own and who adored her and referred to her as “Mom”, and John Maciel, a thoughtful neighbor, friend and “helper”.
She was predeceased by her parents, Monk and Clara Robinson; sons Earl, Mark, and David; granddaughter Carla; siblings Verlon Robinson, Vonnie Winegarden, Dalton Robinson, Novella Woodard, and Lanette Ballard; husbands Doyle Woods, Charles Schemensky, and Robert Stone.
A private family service will be held on Thursday, March 5, at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel 2 Towers, or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
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