Dorothy Antoinette Stone, 94, made the trip to heaven Oct. 30, 2004 to join Lester, her husband of 63 years, who preceded her in death in March, 1996. Both are co-founders of Stone’s Apple Barn, located one mile east of Hampton, Ill. In her later years, she spent part of the year in Oak Harbor, near her daughter, Diana Bull.
Dorothy was born in Peru, Ill., on Oct. 24, 1910, daughter of Carl and Lilly Lange. She acquired her teaching certificate in Minnesota, first teaching there and later in Illinois. She was forced to quit teaching when she and Lester were married because in those days women were not allowed to teach and be married. Society thought it took a job away from a man, the bread winner.
She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church most of her life. In the early years she was a member of Rock Island County Home Bureau, Eastern Star and a 4-H leader for many years. She always enjoyed playing bridge with many groups and card clubs.
She is survived by a daughter and only child, Diana Bull, who has been married for 48 years to Rear Admiral Lyle Bull. They gave her four grandsons. Grandson Ron Bull has his own contracting business in Oak Harbor. Ron has been married to Gina for 25 years. They gave her three great grandchildren, Lindsay, Molly and Grant. Grandson Vince Bull has been at Stone’s Apple Barn for 27 years. Vince has been married to Sheri for 24 years and they will continue to build and carry on the traditions at Stone’s Apple Barn. They also have given her three great grandchildren, Cassidy, Christen, and Caitlin. Grandson Bruce Bull is a program manager for Naval Air Systems Command. Bruce has been married to Tacie for 24 years and they, too, have given her three great-grandchildren, Jason, Erin and Jordan (married to Kit Wilkins last June and is pregnant with Dorothy’s first great-great-grandchild, due in June of next year). Grandson Dell Bull is a Navy commander and executive officer of a F-18 Super Hornet carrier based squadron on the USS Nimitz, VFA-41. Dell has been married to Kari for 18 years and they gave Dorothy the most great-grandchildren, Spenser, Cooper, Kasaun and Jaeger.
She is also survived by brothers, Carl Lange of Cambridge, Ill., and Donald Lange of Carbon Cliff, Ill.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 at Peace Lutheran Church, Rural, Port Byron, Ill. Pastor Scott Boerchel of Wildwood Baptist Church will be conducting the service. Burial will be in Bowlesburg Cemetery, East Moline. Viewing will be at Gibson’s Funeral Home, Port Byron, on Friday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice in Dorothy’s name.
