Editor’s note: For 38 years, (Maria) Rita Stone was an elementary teacher and advocate of teachers in the Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Community Unit School District #3. She began her Prophetstown, IL, teaching career one year before consolidation of Prophetstown and Lyndon, IL, School Districts. Prophetstown Elementary School Principal Justin Hovey submitted this report of her memorial ceremony, outside the building she loved. Owner and Publisher Dan Eyrich furnished the link to his online newspaper, Aroundptown.com, with coverage of the ceremony.
Stone’s Legacy Lives on at Prophetstown Elementary School
On Tuesday, June 7, 2017, former teacher Rita Stone was honored at Prophetstown Elementary School, 301 W. Third Street, Prophetstown, IL, before a group of colleagues and friends. Stone was a member of the Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3 from 1968-2005. In addition to her commitment to the PLT District, she also played a very active role in the local Illinois Education Association group, until her abrupt passing [in] August 2016.
Multiple friends spoke at the dedication, reminiscing about Mrs. Stone’s commitment to children. Her legacy continues to live on in current classrooms at Prophetstown Elementary. Teachers still use lessons that Mrs. Stone shared with them.
The memorial consists of an apple tree and a bench in Rita Stone’s honor. Her husband, Jack, stated the significance behind the apple tree dated back to her teaching days. She would pick apples off a tree that used to be on the school property. She used the apples for various lessons with her students, including making applesauce. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the tree was removed from the property. Jack hopes that someday another teacher can take advantage of the apples and pass the lessons down to the children.
In addition to the memorial, members of the Illinois Education Association have created a scholarship in Mrs. Stone’s honor, to be given to a High School Senior majoring in Education.
Click the link to read Dan Eyrich’s feature on the tribute to Stone: http://aroundptown.com/detail.php?s=memorial-dedicated-at-pes.