In the fall of 1971, Ila Stone began a teaching career that lasted 37 years — not including the two years of being a teacher’s assistant at graduate school.

Teaching English Composition classes has always been a great experience, but not as enjoyable  as children’s literature, Stone said.

“Since 1981 or 1982, Margot Mac had been teaching Children’s Lit and I became her replacement,” Stone said. “That has been a joy.”

While working with colleagues at Hutchinson Community College, great friendships were developed throughout the years.

“We’ve taught together 21 years here in this department,” Trudy Zimmerman, chairperson of Department of Language, Literature and Communications.

“She is a great lady and a great teacher. I personally will miss her, but we wish her a great retirement.”

As retirement comes closer, Stone says that house projects that have built up over the years are now going to get finished. 

One thing came to mind as her career came to an end: traveling.

“I particularly want to go back to England where I spent two months there back in 1974,” Stone said.

Other places also include Greece and Tuscany as part of her traveling agenda.

Something that she looks forward to in retirement, to  her great amusement, is that she gets to read on her own time.