Mr. William Alec Stone, known to many as “Willie”, 81, of Taylorville, IL formerly of Bulpitt and Kincaid, IL went home to be with the Lord at 7:35 A.M. Saturday, January 3, 2015.
Willie was born to Lithuanian immigrants Enoch and Anna (Dabulski) Stone on August 18, 1933 in Bulpitt, IL. He was known in the Kincaid area for his excellence as an all-around athlete. During his high school years, he was named to all-state teams in Basketball, football and track. He was also a long-time holder of the state shot-put record. He received a full scholarship in football to the University of Arkansas. However, family needs brought him back to the Midland area to care for his widowed mother.
Mr. Stone served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and married JoAnn Tonks on July 12, 1961 in Taylorville, IL.
Will became a coal miner at the Peabody Mine #10 near Pawnee in 1960 from which he retired in 1991. Upon his retirement, Will had a long-time dream of founding and operating a coal mining museum honoring all area coal miners. The museum became a reality in 2003 and had its humble beginnings just off the Taylorville Square. More recently, the museum moved and is currently housed at the old Capital Theater Building on the East side of the square. The museum holds much history and treasures from coal miners and miners around Central Illinois. The museum will continue to operate under new management. The Christian County Coal Mining Museum was featured in several area newspaper articles, as well as several area news programs. PBS also aired a special segment featuring the coal-mining museum. Will also donated a monument to all area coal miners, which sits on the North lawn of the courthouse. Mr. Stone was a member of Evangelical Free Church in Taylorville.
Will was a dedicated family man and will be missed by his loving wife JoAnn Stone of Taylorville, IL son Paul (Donna) Mann of Rantoul, IL daughter Linda (Ted) Mann-Fleming of Taylorville, IL 5 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren along with nieces, nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Enoch and Anna, a brother Julius E. Stone and 2 half-brothers Anthony (Tony) Wasiloski and Joseph Wasiloski.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at Masterson Funeral Home in Kincaid. Pastor Jim Wolfe will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, Taylorville, IL. Visitation for Willie Stone will be held from 11:00 A.M. until service time at Masterson Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Christian County Coal Mining Museum – 1225 W. Main Cross – Taylorville, IL - 62568
