Claude Burdett Stoker

Claude Burdett Stoker, 79, of Asheboro, died Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 pm, Saturday, November 7, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1109 McDowell Road, Asheboro NC 27205, with Nathan Swensen officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Memorial Gardens.

Claude was born in Ontario, Oregon to Leslie and Annie Stoker. He spent his childhood traveling with his parents who were building missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This took them to Utah, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Hawaii and Australia. While in Hawaii, he played varsity football at Kahuku high school. He helped his father with clean-up jobs on their construction site at the Polynesian cultural center and temple visitor center. He loved surfing on the ocean with his friends and eating fresh picked pineapples.

At 16 years old, Claude and his parents moved to Australia to build chapels and mission homes. He learned to drive on the left side and started high school. From his dad he learned to lay brick, and carpenter work. He loved taking rides to the outback and continue his talent of surfing. He enjoyed serving with the missionaries and other builders. His faith in Jesus Christ continued to grown as he interacted with them.

He served a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern California mission. This experience helped him continue to develop a lifelong love for missionary work and service.

Upon returning from his mission, he worked at LDS hospital and attended the University of Utah.

He met his wife, Karleen Smith and they were married in the Idaho Falls temple on June 6, 1970. They raised four children; Sharma, Carey, Tyra and Katelyn. Claude considered his greatest achievement to be his marriage and family.

Claude enjoyed a career in emergency medical services. He was among Utah’s first class of paramedics and served the community for more than three decades as a firefighter, paramedic, field supervisor, and helicopter crew chief.

He was blessed to be raised in a home where prayer was offered and faith in Jesus Christ was cherished. He was a life long servant in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held numerous leadership and teaching callings. He served as a temple ordinance worker in multiple temples.

He loved to travel and experience different cultures. He traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, all over Europe, Dominican Republic, and United States. He loved taking pictures of all the flowers in different locations.

A highlight of his life was to return to Australia with his wife as a full time missionary. He was able to reconnect with cherished friends and reminisce on memories of his teenage years.

Claude is survived by his wife, Karleen Stoker; children, Sharma Shumate (Rob), Carey Stoker (Chantel), Tyra Swensen (Nathan), Katelyn Rufty (Daniel); Sister, Ann Inman; grandchildren, Hailey Smith (Sam) and their children, Lily, Max and Annie, McKay Shumate (Abigail) and their children, Noah, Oliver and Winnie, Maddi, Cameron (Camilla), Emma (Dallin), Landon, Kale, Ellie, Max, Weston, Eden, and Clare.

The Family will receive friends from 2:30 until 3:00 pm, at the church prior to the service