South County Builder/Developer Dies
Stephen Malone, Sr. died Sunday, March 11, in his home in Gilroy at the age of 95.
A native of West Pittston, PA he moved to San Jose in 1946. He has been a resident of Gilroy for the last 27 years. He was active in church work. He taught Sunday School, played his trombone in church services and led the singing.
He and his two brothers, John Malone and Joe Malone, founded Westco, a carburetor rebuilding company that employed over 200 workers. At age 65, he and his former wife, Mildred, (deceased January 1992), founded Green Acres Golden Hills Estates, Inc. and began subdividing and building homes in the south county, notably Rolling Hills Estates and Golden Hills Estates in the east foothills of Gilroy. In 1991, he purchased the Bevelacqua property in Morgan Hill and developed three subdivisions of homes. At the age of 80, he married his second wife, the former Connie Keeler of Campbell, in June 1992. He discovered his God-given purpose in life and founded a non-profit corporation, American Anchorpoint Academies, Inc., with the goal of establishing a Christian educational institution from kindergarten through college. In 2003, he and his wife Connie opened the first session of Anchorpoint Christian High School in the fellowship hall of SouthValley Community Church in Gilroy. There were 18 students in grades nine through eleven. The following summer they were able to purchase the old San Ysidro Elementary School facility on Pacheco Pass Rd in Gilroy. Now in their fourth year of operation, there are 135 students in grades 7 – 12. The facility has a boys’ baseball field, a girls’ softball field, a sports court for basketball, volley ball, tennis, etc., and a field for soccer. Anchorpoint Christian Schools is his dream come true and purpose fulfilled.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Connie of Gilroy; his son Stephen Malone, Jr. of Gilroy; his daughter-in-law, Dorothy of Gilroy; his grandsons Stephen Malone III and wife Mary of Santa Cruz; Geoffrey Malone and wife Sarah of Gilroy; six great-grandchildren Annemarie Malone, Vincent Malone, Matthew Malone of Santa Cruz and Jordan Malone, Adam Malone, and Gigi Malone of Gilroy; his step-son Paul Keeler and wife Roz of Glendale, CA and daughter Elysa; his step-daughter Rebekah Beane and husband Ronald II of Puyallup, WA and son Caleb and daughter Vanessa; his brother Joseph Malone and wife Leslie of San Jose; nephews and nieces; grand-nephews and grand-nieces; great-grand-nephews and great-grand-nieces.
Viewing will be open to the public Friday from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 Fourth St., Gilroy. Memorial service will be held Saturday at 2:00 P.M. at South Valley Community Church, 8090 Kelton Dr., Gilroy.
The family would appreciate contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Anchorpoint Christian Schools, “Stephen Malone Memorial,” PO Box 65, Gilroy CA 95021-0065,.
