Harry J Kone

Harry Joseph Kone, age 102, passed away peacefully at home on December 30th, 2022. Son of the late Harry E. Kone and Marie Bartels, Harry was born on August 16, 1920 in Baltimore, Maryland. Harry spent his younger years in Baltimore and attended Mt. Saint Joseph High School, graduating in 1938.

Harry received a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. He began studying Communications with a focus on developing children's programming for the early days of television. While attending school in Milwaukee, he met the love of his life, Marjorie Matravers, whom he would marry years later.

In early 1942, in response to Pearl Harbor, Harry returned to Baltimore to enlist “for the duration” in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed with the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion on Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater. As a Private First Class, he served in several combat arenas as a machine gunner, expert rifleman, and honored with a Purple Heart.

After an honorable discharge in 1945, Harry married Marjorie and attended Northwestern University where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Harry spent his life as a dedicated teacher in the Chicago public school system. First in elementary, then in high school, and finally at the college level teaching Public Speaking and English as a second language.

Along with his parents, Harry is preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty-five years, Marjorie Kone and daughter, Barbara (Kenneth) Bechely.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan Lind; son, Stuart (Tammy) Kone; grandchildren, Scott (Sara) Bechely, Harrison (Annelise) Kone, Tyler (Hattie) Kone, and Ryan Kone; great grandchildren, Anna Bechely, Ava Kone and Eden Kone.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Unity North Atlanta, 4255 Sandy Plains Rd, Marietta, GA 30066 on Saturday February 4th at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Harry’s honor to Unity North Atlanta (https://unitynorth.org/giving/) or the Marine Corps League National Headquarters (https://www.mclnational.org/).

Please visit www.hmpattersoncantonhillcom to post tributes and express condolences with the family.

HM Patterson and Son Canton Hill is honored to serve the Kone family during this challenging time.