Oct. 27, 1921 - July 30, 2011

ELKHART -- Jack M. Jones, 89, of Elkhart, passed away Saturday (July 30, 2011) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born on Oct. 27, 1921, in Gibson County to the late Lawrence and Stella (Shoulders) Jones. On Sept. 2, 1950, he married Nancy E. Bonham. She passed away on Jan. 20, 2000.

Surviving are a daughter Laura A. (James) Deichmiller of South Hill, Va.; sons Thomas M. Jones of Elkhart, Timothy S. Jones of Albion, Andrew (Bea) Jones and Daniel M. Jones, both of Elkhart; and five grandchildren survive as well.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Jones, and his sister, Norma Lee Wagoner.

When World War II broke out, Jack was working as an assistant manager at the local A & P grocery store. Even though he was blind in one eye, Jack served in the U.S. Army as a drill sergeant, serving in France as an Infantry Squad leader, where he earned a Purple Heart. After the war, Jack earned his degree from Indiana State Teachers College, where he met and married his wife, Nancy. Jack taught and coached basketball in Salem, Monon and North Vernon before he became a principal at Mary Frank School in the Penn-Harris-Madison School system in 1958. He stayed with PHM until his retirement in 1985, serving as director of buildings, grounds and transportation.

Jack enjoyed winters in Florida, golf, reading and especially spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Please join with his family and friends as we gather to celebrate his life from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Billings Funeral Home and also for one hour prior to the 11 a.m. Wednesday funeral service at the funeral home. The Rev. William Hemmig of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, of which Jack was an active member, will officiate. Cremation will follow with burial at a later date in Rice Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church 405 W. Beardsley Ave. Elkhart, IN 46514.

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