ATLANTA, GA.
Rachel Stoner was born in Ladoga, Indiana on June 12, 1921, and she died on August 13, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia where she had lived for the past nine years.
Rachel was the third child (and first daughter) born to Norris and Florence Stoner in Tipton, Indiana.
She attended Indiana University and received a bachelor’s in political science, minoring in French. At IU, she was active in the Tri Delta sorority, and received Phi Beta Kappa honors in her junior year. She also served as the president of the Association of Women Students.
When her children were teenagers, she returned to IU to get her master’s in education, and then she began a long career teaching government and reading in high schools in Columbus.
Even with a full-time career and two teenagers, she continued her numerous volunteer and community responsibilities. These included volunteering for the Children’s Village in New York, serving as a tour guide for the architectural tours in Columbus, and establishing and managing a distance learning program at Robin Run Retirement Center in Indianapolis.
After she moved to Atlanta in her 80s, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and the Agape Youth & Family Center where she returned to teaching little ones to read.
Throughout her life she was active in her local church, serving as an Elder at the North Christian Church in Columbus and the Northwood Christian Church in Indianapo-lis.
Rachel was the recipient of two distinguished awards for her professional roles in Columbus.
In 1987, she received the Edna Folger Teacher of the Year award, and in 1994 she was given Columbus’ Woman of the Year award which recognized one woman for “unselfish contributions toward creating a vital community and a high quality of life” in the region.
Rachel is survived by two children: Craig Edwards (Janet Linn Edwards) of Atlanta, Barbara Edwards (Alan Houston) of North Yorkshire, England; and five grandchildren, Chris-tian, Ellie, Caroline (Craig/Janet) and Kelsey and Ben (Barbara/Alan). She is also survived by two brothers, David Stoner (Jenny) of Vermont, Marvin Stoner (Pat) of Florida, and many nephews and nieces.
Rachel’s ashes will be interred in the Fairview Cemetery in Tipton, Indiana (418 Fairview Avenue) on October 21, at 3 p.m. All are welcome to attend the graveside service.
For more information, please contact her daughter, Barbara, at [email protected].
