Raymond Benjamin STONE

STONE, CIBERT, RADTKE, OLSON, GRAY, BRAND, MARTIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/10/2013 at 16:09:13

November 25, 1917 ---- January 13, 2013

POYNETTE, WI - Raymond Benjamin Stone, age 95, of Poynette, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.

Ray was born on Nov. 25, 1917, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Benjamin and Martha Stone. On Oct. 30, 1943, Raymond was united in marriage to Marcella “Marce” Cibert. During World War II, he served in the 14th Air Force as a fighter pilot and was awarded the Purple Heart. Raymond was especially proud of his service with the Flying Tigers in central China in WWII. He was an avid outdoorsman who spent much time enjoying water sports, hunting and fishing. Together with his family, Ray raised horses and attended many horse shows. Along with being an industrial arts high school teacher for more than 30 years, Ray coached wrestling and was honored in both the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and Wisconsin’s George Martin Hall of Fame. Before his military service, Ray wrestled at Iowa State under the National HOF coach Hugo Otopolick. He was a charter member of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association and was instrumental in starting community wrestling programs in the early Wisconsin years. In Wisconsin, he coached at Berlin, New Berlin, and River Valley. Ray also enjoyed woodworking and worked in construction and was an avid gardener. There is much more to the story, about family, wrestling, and beloved wife, Marce, and much more to say of his example. He is survived by wife, Marcella ‘Marce’; children, Karen (Duane) Radtke, Jack Stone, Susan (Steven) Olson; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Louis Stone; and a sister, Bonnie.

Funeral services will be held at DEKORRAH LUTHERAN CHURCH, N3099 Smith Road, Poynette, at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, with the Rev. Ryan Rouse presiding. Burial will follow at Dekorrah Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday. Memorials may be made to the Wisconsin Wresting Coaches Association or to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

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Wisconsin George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame
Coach Ray Stone

Ray coached 3 years at Colby, Kansas, 9 years at Eagle Grove, Iowa (Home of George Martin), 7 years at Berlin, WI, 4 years at New Berlin, WI and 4 years at Spring Green, WI. Ray also was Head Coach of the Iowa State Cyclones and guided them to a 4th place NCAA finish and won the Big 6 Conference Championship (Now Big 8). His total high school coaching record shows 243 wins, 57 losses and 4 ties. Included were 5 undefeated seasons, 2 State Champions, 2 Runner ups, 2 Thirds and other assorted places.

Coach Stone was also President of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Many outstanding wrestlers have wrestled under Ray including Glen Brand, 174 lb. Olympic Champion and NCAA Champ; Ron Gray, 147 lb. NCAA Champ and Outstanding Wrestler, and his son Jack, a two time Wisconsin State Champion, with a record of 97-3-1. On top of all that Ray was an outstanding wrestler himself, having won an Iowa State Championship, and three Iowa State College Conference Championships, and placed 2nd in the National AAU.

http://www.wwca.org/wwca/hall/1977/1977stone.jsp