Father Theodore C. Stone, 91, died Jan. 4 at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge. He was most recently  associate pastor of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish, Park Ridge. He retired in 2002, but continued to serve the parish.

Born in Chicago, Father Stone attended Western Springs Public Schools, Our Lady of Bethlehem Academy in La Grange, Faulkner Public School in Chicago and St. Ferdinand School. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained to the priesthood in 1952.

He served as assistant pastor at St. Tarcissus (1952-1957) and St. Cornelius Parish (1966-1969). During his first years as a priest, he became aware that children in non-Catholic elementary schools had little Catholic education and served as associate director and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine from 1957 through 1969. 

In 1969, Father Stone requested a leave to pursue his vocation to the sacrament of marriage. He and his wife had two children, Bethanne and Timothy Stone. After his wife died in 1981, Father Stone petitioned to return to the active priesthood, and was accepted under Cardinal Bernardin. 

He served as associate pastor at Our Lady Mother of the Church (1991-1992) and at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish (1992-2002).

He is survived by his daughter, Bethanne Stone, his son, Timothy Stone, and his sisters, Mary Lippa and Dorothy Moore.