James Charles Stock
James Charles “Jim” Stock died peacefully and comfortably, with his family by his side, on October 28, 2026, at Riverstone Assisted Living in Bedford, Virginia. He was born on January 20, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Richard A. Stock and Helan C. Stock. He attended Penn Hills Senior High School and Point Park University.
Jim’s life took him from Pittsburgh through Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio, to St. Louis, where he began his career. He then lived in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, for 30 years before settling in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he retired.
Jim married Carol Lynn Kirkham on November 21, 1970, in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. High school sweethearts, they would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this November. Carol was the love of his life.
Jim loved sales and spent his career in the field. He retired as Vice President of Sales at Panel Claw, after earlier positions at System Sales and Westinghouse.
His Christian faith was important to him, though he expressed it in a quieter, more personal way. He was a member of South Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, and served as a deacon at South Congregational. As his daughter remembers him saying, “That’s why God gave us snow tires—to get to church on Sundays.” He also loved First Night and spent many evenings at the church until late into the night.
Jim’s memberships and community ties meant a great deal to him. He belonged to the Kiwanis Club and St. Johnsbury Country Club in Vermont, Ivy Hill Golf Course in Lynchburg, the Virginia Corvette Club, the Boone Trail Corvette Club in St. Louis, and the Searchlight, also known as the Flashlight Men’s Club, in St. Johnsbury.
People were drawn to Jim. He was fun, warm, and personable, with a quick wit and a great sense of humor. A natural jokester, he loved making people laugh, and he had a knack for knowing a little about everything. He was a wonderful storyteller, and anyone who met him would walk away liking him.
A huge sports fan, Jim knew the players and the stories behind teams across many sports. His favorite football team was the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his favorite NASCAR driver was Dale Earnhardt Jr. His daughter, Annette, will always remember his detailed explanations of why the referees were always wrong whenever the Steelers played.
Jim was immensely proud of his son-in-law, Michael Buxton, and never missed a chance to brag about what an incredible basketball player Michael had been. Jim especially loved watching him play for the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers in high school.
Jim was crazy about the boys—Selman, Goran, and Benjamin—and loved finally having kids to talk sports with who could keep up with all his facts. Even when dementia made it difficult for him to remember other people’s names, he NEVER forgot Adelaide. He always lit up when he saw her.
Annette will always cherish getting up early with her dad to do farm chores in Vermont with the family’s collection of animals, and their drives to school talking about everything under the sun.
A lifelong car enthusiast, Jim owned many classic cars, including his prized 1969 Camaro Z/28. He was also a gifted handyman who could fix or build just about anything. He built his own sugar shack in Vermont, his own barns, and his own garages for his cars, and took care of the maintenance around the house himself.
Jim is survived by his wife, Carol Lynn Stock; his daughter, Annette Stock, and her husband, Michael Buxton; and his grandchildren, Miss Adelaide Buxton, Goran Buxton, Selman Buxton, and Benjamin Buxton. He is also survived by his brothers, David Stock, Ed Stock and his wife, Susan, and Richard Jr. Stock and his wife, Posie; his brothers-in-law, Eric Kirkham and his wife, Connie, and Ken Kirkham and his wife, Jan; and their children and grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 13, 2026 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Dennis Roberts officiating. Inurnment in the church columbarium will take place following the service.
