August 15, 2025 at 9:15 a.m.
Ernest Eugene Stone, 86, Columbus
By Norman Funeral Home
Ernest Eugene Stone, age 86, of Columbus, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
He was born January 6, 1939, in Columbus, Indiana to Lloyd Adam and Thelma Louise (Mace) Stone.
He graduated from Hope High School, Hope, Indiana in 1956. He married his high school sweetheart Barbara Rae Waltz on February 2, 1957, they were married 68 and a half years.
He was a 60 year plus member of the Hope Masonic Lodge #150 of Hope, Indiana. He retired from Cummins Engine Company with 30 plus years employment and received an accounting degree from Indiana University, and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) on May 7, 1986. After retiring from Cummins, he opened Ernie Stone Tax & Accounting Services with his daughter and ran that business until his passing.
Ernie is survived by his wife, Barbara; children, Jan (Stone) Rynerson; granddaughter, Shelly Rynerson, great granddaughters Willow & Iris Rynerson and great grandson Fox Niederhauser; granddaughter Dusty (Skylar) Hammack, great granddaughters Amberlyn & Chloe Hammack; and Darryl (Colleen) Stone; grandson Adam (Laura) Stone, great grandchildren Luke & Lily Stone; and brother, Edward Leo Stone.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Larry Wayne Stone, David Lee Stone & Edwin Leroy Stone, granddaughter, Ashley Dawn Stone and son-in-law, Mike Rynerson.
Ernie loved football, softball, basketball, golfing, camping and modern western style square dancing. He and Barbara, served as General Chairman of the 1986 35th National Square Dance Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana with 27,192 square dancers in attendance, some dancers from as far away as thirteen (13) foreign countries.
In July 1979, they went on a twenty-one (21) day trip to Russia and Poland with 157 square dancers, and they square danced in Red Square.
On August 2, 1987 they participated by square dancing in the opening ceremony of the Tenth (10th) Pan American Games at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Viewing and visitation will be at Normans Funeral Home in Hope, Indiana - Monday, August 18 from 4 - 7 p.m., Masonic services will follow at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 19 at 12 p.m. with viewing from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. before the service. Burial will be at the Moravian Cemetery, Hope, Indiana, immediately following the service.
Memorial donations can be made to Hope Masonic Lodge #150 or to the First Baptist Church, Hope, Indiana.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
