The Rev. Doddie L. Stone died on September 26, 2024, at the age of 89 (1935-2024). Doddie is survived by her sons Donald Stone and Craig Stone, daughter Cindy Gatioan, as well as her nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the First UU Congregation of Terre Haute.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First UU Congregation of Terre Haute, PO Box 3225, Terre Haute IN 47803, or to the Mt Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Ln, Walnut Creek CA 94596.
Notes of condolences may be sent to Sylvia Oster, 1101 E. Royse Dr., Terre Haute, IN 47802.
Born on October 2nd, 1935 in Champaign, IL, to Dorothea and Harold Johnson, Doddie Lu Stone lived in Chicago, IL, before moving to Sullivan, IN, with her family. She passed away of a massive stroke on September 26th, 2024.
She graduated from Sullivan High School, Evansville College, and Starr King Seminary at University of California in Berkeley.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters (Christie Ferguson and Donna Dunham) and her brother (Harold (Buzz) Johnson). She is survived by her two sons, Don (Betty) and Craig, and her daughter Cindy, two grandchildren (Zach and Megan), and four great-grandsons, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She taught 4th grade for many years, receiving Teacher of the Year in California. During this time she visited Nicaragua twice, being jailed during her last visit. She was there to teach English. She retired from teaching to enter the Unitarian Universalist Seminary at Berkeley. She lived in Germany while she organized the International Women in Religion Conference in India. She served congregations in southern California, New Hampshire and New Jersey. She returned to Sullivan to care for her parents in their later years.
She was informally affiliated with the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Terre Haute where she preached once a month, served on the Pastoral Care Committee and baked more pies for fundraising activities than we could keep track of. Her passions were Peace, Women's Rights and Abolition of the Death Penalty.
She was a friend and listening ear to many. She will be missed and remembered by all who knew her.
Doddie was also a member of the Continental UUW&R core group in the early 2000s, and was one of the writers for the service and booklet "Revolution by Resolution: Celebrating 30 Years of Women and Religion."
