Weir Stone

The spirit of Weir Stone, 94, of Elkhart and formerly of White Pigeon, MI left his body after a period of declining health on March 11, to go into the World of Light. He was born on May 19, 1922 in Elkhart, to Bessie and Charles Stone and married Rosa Bontrager on February 14, 1945. She survives and they celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day.  Weir was an avid gunsmith and hunter and was still hunting racoon, deer, and wild turkeys into his 90’s. His largest game trophy was a Cape Buffalo shot in Africa.

He was a supervisor at Elkhart (Indiana) Products, where he retired after 30 years. He owned and operated trap shooting ranges for more than 58 years, including Boot Hill Trap Range, Elkhart Shooting Center, and Wild Acres Sporting Clays and Trap Shooting in White Pigeon, MI. He was a federal firearms dealer for over 30 years.

He was a member of Belmont Mennonite Church. When World War II broke out, he registered as a conscientious objector. He was first based in Missoula, Montana as a parachute forest fighter, called a “smoke jumper.” After marrying, he completed his service term working together with Rosa at a mental hospital in Rhode Island.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Robert, a sister Jean Yoder, and his daughter Janet Stone. Surviving are two daughters, eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. The daughters are Barbara Stone, Millersburg, OH married to Robert Alcorn, MD; and Cindy Robinett of Mishawaka, IN, married to Tom Robinett. The Grandchildren are Elizabeth (Lamoni) Bryant, Ben Williams, Joseph Micah Williams, Joel (Vicki) Bosler-Kilmer, Sarah Courtemanche, Suzanne (DJ) Boverhuis, Paul (Jen) Robinett, Mindy (Scott) Doegler.

Viewing will be at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home at 403 W. Franklin Street, Elkhart, Indiana on Friday, March 17, from 5-8 pm. Additional viewing hours will be at Belmont Mennonite Church at 925 Oxford Street, Elkhart, IN on Saturday, March 18 from 2-4 pm. The funeral service will also be at Belmont Mennonite Church at 4 pm with the Reverend Larry Rohrer and the Reverend Thomas Miller, a long-time family friend, officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to Belmont Mennonite Church.

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