[1]ROME, Ga. (BP)–R.O. Stone, 67, a longtime Southern Baptist minister of music, died April 29 in Rome, Ga., following a battle with cancer. Stone was founder and president of Stone Family Ministries, now being carried on in concerts by his three sons, The Stone Brothers.
The father led music at annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention and at state evangelistic conferences in several states. Many musicians serving today throughout the SBC were trained under his music leadership.
At the time of his death he was a member of Hollywood Baptist Church in Rome, where he served as minister of senior adults.
Among the many prominent Southern Baptist churches in which R.O. Stone served were Lakewood Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.; First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Tabernacle Baptist Church, Macon, Ga.; Mid-City Baptist Church, New Orleans; First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.; Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala.; and Trinity Baptist Church in Ocala, Fla.
A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Stone was a graduate of Tennessee Temple
University.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Angie Cooley Stone, who also served as his accompanist throughout his ministry; three sons, Rick of Huntsville, Ala., Randy of Ocala, Fla., and Rodney of Osage Beach, Mo.; a sister, Jacquelyn Smith of Chattanooga; and 10 grandchildren.
[2]Funeral services were held May 2 at Fellowship Church in Rome. Participating in the service were Mike Miller, David Harper, Bailey Smith, Steve Hale, Jay Strack, Junior Hill and other ministers.