Doug Hone died peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2023. Doug loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, lived his life according to Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD, with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Doug was born at City of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, CA on November 24, 1940. Doug spent his early childhood with his parents, Naomi and Charles Hone and Grandpa Charley. Doug’s father, a talented professional trumpet player, used the stage name Jack Holmes while he toured with the Phil Harris Orchestra and to publish his music. Before Jack’s death in 1953, his song “Blacksmith Blues,” reached number 1 on the Bill Board Music charts. Doug’s memories of his childhood were strongly anchored to his father’s song. The death of his father, Jack, and his beloved grandfather, Charles Hone, two months later left Naomi and young Doug with few options. Naomi moved them to Newport Beach where she raised him to be independent and adventurous. She always said that it was the royalties from Blacksmith Blues that sustained them through the tough times. When Doug was 14 years old, he went to work on the commercial fishing boats as a deck hand at Newport Harbor to help them make ends meet. Doug loved fishing and became a fishing boat captain and ran his own charters at Oceanside, CA while attending San Diego State University.
It was at San Diego State that he met his best friend and wife, Kathleen. He courted Kathy by having her cook for the fisherman on his fishing boat charters.Kathy grew up in San Ysidro, CA on her parents’ dairy farm. They were married in Chula Vista, CA in 1966. Doug spent 6 years in the Air National Guard based at Ontario, CA. After being honorably discharged, Doug went to work for Chrysler Corporation and was instrumental in solving several labor strikes. He also worked for the City of Beverly Hills managing labor relations. Doug and Kathy started their family, creating a loving home for their two children, Julia and Charles. They moved to Atla Loma, CA and started the Hone Company, and worked together to develop residential and commercial real estate projects.
In between real estate deals, the family traveled on many infamous road trips looking for the world’s largest ball of twine, singing bad 70’s country and folk songs and reading used paperbacks. Doug lived in curiosity and wonder, always gathering information. His principles of hard work and tenacity served him well and he encouraged others to pursue their dreams. Among his favorite aphorisms, were those from his favorite author, Napolean Hill, who wrote “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.”
In 1979, the Hone Family adventure continued when Doug and Kathy decided that California wasn’t big enough for them. They bought a ranch in the beautiful Carson Valley and taught the kids to work. Together with their son, Charlie, they built the Hone Ranch into a thriving cattle business. Doug and Kathy loved to build things and while working on their company and the ranch and raising their children, they also built mission churches. In Rancho Cucamonga, they had started a thriving church called Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Chuch. They didn’t stop building and helped found Shepherd of the Sierra Lutheran Church and Sierra Lutheran High School. Doug served wherever he could and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for over 40 years.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Naomi Hone and Charles Hone. He leaves behind his wife, Kathy Hone, and children Julia (Chris Bonafede) and Charles (Vicki Hone) and grandchildren Grace Bonafede, Emily Hone, Luke Bonafede, Amanda Hone and Noah Bonafede. Doug was much beloved and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Doug’s name to Sierra Lutheran High School.
A Celebration of Life Service to remember Doug will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gardnerville, NV on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11:00 am with a reception to follow.