VERNON
Rev. Stephen Aye Malone, 85, of Vernon, passed away at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus. He was born on December 30, 1936 in Dana, Indiana the son of Harry Graden and Grace (Aye) Malone. Stephen had graduated from Dana High School in 1954 and attended Rose Hulman University. He graduated in 1972 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was ordained into the ministry in January 1971. He was a station agent and telegrapher for the B&O Railroad form 1957 until 1970. Rev. Malone and his wife served as managers of the Southeastern Baptist Youth Camp in Westport for 23 years. He had pastored churches in Columbus, Vernon, Waynetown and the Rock Creek Baptist Church in Westport for 38 years. He was a member of the Rock Creek Baptist Church, Jennings County Historical Society, Decatur County Historical Society, and an honorary member of the Ripley County Historical Society. He was a member of Haley Tower Historical and Technological Society, sons of the Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, former member of Westport Kiwanis, he served as an officer of Sand Creek Baptist Association, International Fellowship of Christian and Jews and a past President of Indiana Baptist Minister Council. He was an avid reader and historian. His specialty was early churches in Indiana. He loved playing golf. He was a member of the sons of the American Revolution. He married Judith Wallace on November 30, 1958, in Clinton, Indiana and she survives. Other survivors include his daughters, Rev. Colleen Malone of Vernon, Angela (Oren) Griffin of Lafayette and Myrna (Ted) Kinney of Crawfordsville; his brothers, Morris Howard of Evansville, and Frank Howard of Illinois; his grandchildren, Stephen Griffin and Elaine Griffin of Lafayette, Meagan Lampkin of Seymour, Angela Eaton of North Vernon and Isaac Kinney of Kansas; 14 great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather; 2 brothers and 1 great grandchild. There will be a visitation at the River of Life Church in North Vernon on Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. with a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. Burial will be at Rock Creek Cemetery at a later date. The Bass &Gasper Funeral Home in Westport has been entrusted with handling the funeral arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Southeastern Baptist Youth Camp or the Mercy Rescue &Adoption. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.bassgasper.com.
