William C. Stone, a businessman who co-founded Quality Furniture in Hawai'i, died July 17 in Los Angeles. He was 85.

Stone was born in Boise, Idaho, on Aug. 16, 1919. He came to Hawai'i in 1943 to work at the Pearl Harbor Naval base.

After the war, Stone and his father-in-law opened a sewing machine repair and sales business, and Stone later started Trading Center, which sold military surplus goods.

Stone and his wife, Myrl, later opened Quality Furniture, which eventually became part of the Wigwam Department Stores in Hawai'i. For 20 years, the couple's five stores supplied residents with furniture, lamps, appliances, carpets, art and pianos.

The Stone family also established ABC Furniture Rental.

But Stone wasn't interested only in furniture. He was a general contractor who built many homes on O'ahu and the Big Island, and in the 1970s he got involved in art.

He opened Crossroads galleries in Honolulu and at Pearlridge, and then opened Collectors Art, which specialized in affordable artwork. Stone also established Collectors Fine Art of Hawai'i, Art Impressions and Collectors Editions, which was in California.

Stone is survived by his wife, Myrl; and daughters, Linda Hancock and Patti Stone Canter.

A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Nazarene Church in Honolulu.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.