Columbus Slone Jr.

Columbus Slone Jr., age 78, passed away Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 10:45 a.m. in his residence.  Columbus Jr. was born on August 16, 1942 in Prestonsburg, Kentucky to Columbus and Anna (Fitzpatrick) Slone.  He married the love of his life, Patricia Myers Slone in 1976, who survives. After moving to Warsaw from Prestonsburg in 1959, Columbus spent many years working in factories. Beginning in 1960, he worked at Kralis Brothers with his mom, and moved on to work with his brother at Dalton Foundry in 1963. Then he worked at the Warsaw Foundry before moving on to Kimble Glass where he met Patty.  That is where their life adventure began. Columbus retired from Kimble Glass to pursue his hobby of archery and open his own archery shop in Lagro, Indiana.  People from all over the state knew Columbus Jr. and visited his shop frequently to shoot at the range; a lot of time just to shoot the bull with him, since he did not know a stranger.  The couple made many lifelong friends running the business.  After closing the business, they started a new adventure, throwing caution to the wind and hauling trailers cross country.  They saw many beautiful places together and enjoyed that time of their life together. Columbus Jr. worked hard all of his life.  He enjoyed his downtime spending it in his garden.  He was a Kosciusko Fair Ground farmers market vendor and was known as the “Tomato Man” with the best tomatoes around. You could find him with the snow still on the ground looking through seed catalogs, plotting out next years garden.  Sunup to sundown he would be in the garden tending to the plants.  He made many friends over the years at the farmers market where they would marvel over his harvest. Columbus Jr. is survived by his wife, Patty; one daughter, Kim (Dodge) Elkins, Warsaw; four sons, Mark France, Burket, DeWayne Slone, Claypool, Brian France, Irondale, AL, and Jerry Slone, Tucson, AZ.  He is also survived by grandchildren, Kale (Cassie) Elkins, Dustin (Jessica) France, Brittney Elkins, Tanner France, Garvey France, Jessica Asire, and Ashley Myers; great-grandchildren, Keagan, Jenson, Jackson, Steven, Andrew, Lincoln, Allison; 6 brothers and 3 sisters.  He was preceded in death by both parents. A visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. A funeral service will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the funeral chapel with his cousin, Pastor John Miller officiating the service. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Claypool. Due to current COVID-19 recommendations, masks are required.  The public is kindly requested to provide their own. Social distancing is strongly encouraged. No food is permitted at this time. Memorial donations may be made to: Kosciusko County Cancer Fund C/O K-21 Health Foundation, 1101 Park Avenue, Winona Lake, IN 46590 Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, 1515 Provident Dr., Warsaw, IN 46581