Edwin Leroy Stone, age 79, of Hope, passed away December 12, 2022 at Miller's Merry Manor, Hope, IN.  He was born August 20 1943 in Grammer, Bartholomew County, Indiana.  He graduated from Hauser High School, Hope, Indiana in 1961.  He was the son of the late Lloyd Adam and Thelma Louise (Mace) Stone.

Edwin was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hope and the Hope Masonic Lodge #150 of Hope, Indiana.  He served four (4) years in the United States Air Force.  He worked 30 years at Cummins Engine Company, Columbus, Indiana. While at Cummins, he received a degree in Fire Science.  He was a member of the Indiana Rural Youth and served in many offices and stayed at the Indiana State Fair building serving as a chaperone.  He was a member of the Bartholomew County 4H Fair Board serving two (2) terms.  He was awarded the 2022 Mr. IVFA (Indiana Volunteer Firefighter Association) award at their convention in August 2022.

He is survived by brothers, Ernest (Barbara) Stone and Edward Stone, sister-in-law Sharon Stone, several nieces and nephews: Jan Stone Rynerson, Darryl (Colleen) Stone, Melanie Stone, Michael Stone, Jeff (Sue Ann) Stone, Judy Stone Palmer, Peter (Cindy) Stone, Paul Stone, and Donna Stone Patterson and several great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Larry Wayne (Norma Jean) Jackson Stone Hitchcock, David Lee (Mary Lou) Collins Stone; and nieces Betty Louise Stone and Ashley Dawn Stone.

Visitation for Edwin will be Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at Norman Funeral Home in Hope.  There will be an IVFA Service at 7:00 p.m. Thursday followed by a Masonic Service.

The funeral service will be Friday at 10:30 am at Norman Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior.  The service will be officiated by Pastor Dennis Chasteen.  Burial will follow at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery, 550 North and River Road, Columbus, Indiana with a military graveside service conducted by the Bartholomew County Veteran Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be donated to IVFA in C/O David Israel, 2070 S. Co. Rd. 700 W, Greensburg, Indiana.

Online condolences may be expressed to Edwin's family at www.normanfuneralhome.net.