Billy Franklin Lee Stover

Billy Franklin Lee Stover was born on March 13, 1928, in Coalwood, West Virginia, a small coal mining town. He was the son of William Franklin Stover and Velva May Belcher. Smokey, as he was commonly known, passed away on January 10, 2025, due to congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. According to the 1940 census, at the time he was 12 years old and residing in Mullens, West Virginia, with his mother Velva, stepfather Charles E. Webb, sister Betty Stover, and half-brother Charles E. Webb Jr. Smokey was employed by Koppers Coal Co. in West Virginia before joining the U.S. Navy on March 26, 1946. He served aboard the USS Barako at the USNAF in Attu, Alaska, as an Aviation Storekeeper Third Class. He was honorably discharged March 1, 1948, in Portland, Oregon.

Billy Stover married Deloris Nadine Tombleson and had four children, Frances Lee Stover, Steven Lyle Stover, Karen Sue Stover, and David Rodney Stover. Steven and Karen preceded Smokey in Death.

The 1950 census located Billy and Deloris and baby Francis at Renton, King County, Washington. He was working as a storekeeper for an aircraft company, most likely Boeing Aircraft Co.

In 1966 Billy joined the UA Local 290 Pipe Fitters' Union. The Union honored him with a fifty-five-year membership certificate on May 24, 2021, in appreciation of his long-term contribution to the ideals and objective of the Union Association.

Smokey spent the winter months in Quartzsite, Arizona. He enjoyed going to rock shows, riding his Jeep or ATV exploring the area, showing others interesting sites, or going on a Geo-cash search.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billy Franklin Lee Stover, please visit our floral store.