Service Information
Rev. Guy E. Stone Jr., age 82, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Obituary
Guy Eldridge Stone Jr. was born August 23, 1938, in Selma, Alabama, the son of a restaurateur and oldest of eight children. He was the son of Guy E. Sr. and Beulah (Guinn) Stone. As a natural athlete, he played football in high school and worked as lifeguard and waterfront director at Camp Grist, a YMCA camp in Selma, while he was in college. He also was very artistic, writing poetry and creating watercolor paintings of forests and cabins in Alabama.
Guy also sang and played the guitar, and was a member of the Brush Arbor Boys with Rev. Brian Brosz in Hutchinson.
Studying to be a clergy, he attended Phillips University and seminary in Enid, Oklahoma, where he also met and married his wife, Katherine Tibbe. Together they had a daughter Mary Catherine and a son William Eldridge. Being a very mobile family, they lived in Lawrence, Kansas, Lorain, Ohio, Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Grand Forks in North Dakota.
Guy was ordained into the ministerial profession in 1965. Also, in 1965 he was privileged to witness the Rev. Martin Luther King leading his famous Voting Rights march from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to the capital city of Montgomery.
Guy combined his athletic skills and clerical talents to lead more than 50 canoe camping trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota, leading youth groups from his churches. In all of the fifty trips that Guy led, there was never an accident, never an injury, never an illness. All of the trips that he led were amazing spiritual experiences for all who participated.
Guy retired from the ministry in 2002 and moved with his wife Kathy to Hutchinson, Minnesota, where they still are blessed with wonderful and caring friends. In 2015, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and became a resident at the Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. His favorite food, grits, was prepared for him every morning for breakfast, and they were the last food he ever ate.
Guy passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, at the age of 82 years. His body has been donated to the Brain and Tissue Program at the University of Maryland, where research will be performed to study Parkinson's Disease.
Guy will be remembered by all his wonderful friends, his family, and all the former kids who went on canoe trips. If there are no canoes, paddles, and rip-stop tents in Heaven, there will be soon.
Guy is survived by his:
Wife, Katherine Stone of Hutchinson, MN;
Daughter, Mary McIlrath and Scott McIlrath of Saint Paul, MN;
Son, William Stone and Renee Abeln of Saint Cloud, MN;
Grandchildren, Milo McIlrath and Rita McIlrath of St. Paul, MN;
Brother, Rocky Stone of Russellville, AL;
Sisters, Bettye Bambarger, Anne Stone, Kathryn Whitcomb, and Rosemary Trawick all of Tuscaloosa, AL;
Many other relatives and friends.
Guy is preceded in death by his Parents, Guy Sr. and Beulah Stone.
John hassinger says
A wonderful,kind man whose knowledge and life experience enriched jeanne and my life. Be in peace Guy.
John and Kim Schutt says
We loved hearing Guy’s stories and his messages from the pulpit. He had a beautiful way with words that always enthralled us! Such a good, good man who lived a life of service and love.
Rosemary Duxbury says
He married my husband and I in 1989 at the first Congregational church in Sioux Falls South Dakota May 20 1989 Rosemary and Ronald Duxbury
Penny L Entringer says
I was blessed to get to know him in his retirement years and to be a clergy colleague.
Karen Gustafson says
I loved the visits, Guy. A knowledgeable and interesting man…
Cheryl Buboltz says
Dearest Kathy, I am sadden to hear of Guy’s death. I remember you and Guy fondly from being a temp at 3M. It was always fun to talk when we would run into each other at Cashwise. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Jerry Stone says
Rest In Peace my friend. Even though we aren’t related, we sure did have fun making some people think we were. You were a true inspiration to us all. All Gods creatures sing in the choir, some sing low, some sing higher… I hope you are enjoying singing in God’s choir.
Louis says
Guy was a great Minister and everyone always felt welcome. He will truly be missed.
Jim gaines says
Guy was an awesome person. I have many fond memories of our youth trips when he was at Parkway UCC. He always brought a smile to my face.
Jim Gaines.
Verne Meyer says
I came to know Guy in the early 2000s through the local Rotary club. He was a very genuine person and a great individual. My condolences to his family.
Maribeth Komarniski Jerde says
Kathy and family, Heaven has gained another wonderful person. He was such a kind, fun loving minister. He was a positive role in my youth. Peace be with you.
Jaette says
Many, many kind thoughts of Guy Stone and his family. His visits with our Daughter Siri were so special when he was in town for the State Fair. He sang at our wedding and baptized our Daughters. Our (Bob Fedor) family started going to Parkway when he walked on down to my family’s house to meet us. How could we not, having met this incredible person. We will miss you in this World, Guy.
Eloise Appletoft says
Pastor Stone was my minister for many years. He confirmed a few of my children. He was such a kind and understanding man. He was sure missed when left the church. Our prayers go out to his wife and children. May he Rest In Peace.
Frances Hughes says
Rosemary and family, I am so sorry about your loss. May God comfort you as only He can.?
Gail Davis says
Now Guy is in Heaven. How fortunate earth was to have this good man.
LINDELL E DUHAMEL says
Bob and Lin Duhamel
To our friendly neighbors, we shared a lot of great talks, in many different places. I know we will meet again. For Guy the pain is gone, thanks be to God.
Our condolences to the family.
Sherri Cook says
On Behalf of the Tripp Family from Selma, Alabama, I would like to express our deepest sympathy. Our prayers are extended to you in this time of transition.
Sherri Cook, Granddaughter of Percy Tripp, Sr. and Alma Eaton Tripp
Jessie Tripp Cook
Mary Tripp Williams
Ella Tripp
Katie Tripp Winston
Moses Tripp
Gail Box Ingram says
Dear family of Guy Stone,
Thank you for putting the obit. in the Selma Times Journal. I knew the Stone family growing up in Selma, attending Baker Elementary and on to A.G. Parrish in the same class as his sister Betty Bamberger. I also remember others of the family: Anne and Rocky and Rita. It was a wonderful, Christian, hardworking family as I remember. I believe the house where they lived on Franklin St. is still there. I have fond memories of them when I pass. It sounds as if Rev. Guy finished well and I was so glad to hear about his life and family and ministry. Also, that he wrote poetry and had a way with words. Interesting! Truly I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Stone and family….Parkinson’s is a hard disease. May the God of all comfort comfort you as only He can at this time. (Gail Box Ingram)
Rodger Ellingson says
Canoed with Guy in the Boundary Waters and on the Missouri River while attending his church in Sioux Falls. He will be missed. God bless, Guy.
Chuck Hornbeck says
Guy was a college housemate and fellow midnight coffee drinker who could type out, flawlessly, required papers for his classes, without any first drafts required. He was gentle with people, but he could bang his fists through sheetrock walls when frustrated. The first wedding he performed, mine, in 1963, has outlasted him, as his other good works also will. Thanks, Guy, all you have been to so many.
Chuck
Chuck Hornbeck says
I believe Guy had such a deep love for football that it sometimes overcame his awareness of his surroundings. Kathy tells me of a time he got so carried away watching a game on TV that he punched his fist through a wall — a different wall than I have spoken of earlier.
When I returned to Phillips Univ. in 1963 to work temporarily with the maintenance department, Guy was in his second year of seminary, so I roomed with him again, in a small house the school owned. Guy was playing football with some buddies on Broadway Ave. when I returned from work one afternoon. As I entered the house, I was assaulted by a strong, smoky, sulphur-like odor emanating from the kitchen, where I found a misshapen aluminum pan with molten black handles on the still burning gas flames. Guy had started boiling two eggs, possibly to eat with his grits, but forgot about them when the invitation to play ball arose. The eggs had exploded and left fragments hanging from the ceiling. Still, I left Guy to finish his game while I got out the mop, lucky that the yolk wasn’t on me.