Constance Stein's Obituary
Connie Stein passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 of natural causes. She was born on July 4, 1920 in Cumberland, Maryland where she grew up in a close-knit family. She married Robert (Buck) Stein, also from Cumberland, on February 20, 1943. During WWII, they were stationed in Norfolk, VA and after the war, they spent a year in Los Angeles. They moved to Tacoma in 1949 where Buck open his first Dairy Queen store, the start of 46 successful years in business. Connie and Buck raised their family including three boxer dogs in Lakewood. Connie was a devoted and involved mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was active in the Naomi Women’s Circle at St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Lakewood Garden Club, Bridge Club, and Oakbrook Golf Club. After the “nest was empty,” she and Buck traveled the world and built their dream home in University Place where Connie entertained their many friends and family and hosted elaborate Easter egg hunts for her grandchildren as well as summer pool parties. In 2004, Buck and Connie moved to an apartment at Franke Tobey Jones and eventually transitioned to assisted living and nursing care. The family thanks the staff at Tobey Jones for their superb care for both Buck and Connie.
Connie is remembered fondly for her warmth, energy, love of life, and ability to laugh at herself and talk to anybody about anything. She made friends wherever she went. She was quick to love and accept and was always interested in the bits and details of the other person’s life. She truly put others first. Even in the later stages of dementia, she lit up the room with her love, joy and delight in whoever was attending to her.
Connie is predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Charlotte Pitts, her husband, Robert (Buck) Stein, and her brother Daniel Pitts. She is survived by her son, Gary Stein and his wife Melody; daughter Patricia Parsons and her husband Brent; grandchildren, Dr. Alicia Parsons (Thomas Cantrell), Matthew Parsons (Tovah), and Shelby Parsons.
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