Submitted by: Dan Rich
Ralph E. Jones
Aug. 15, 1903 - Sept. 12, 1999
South Bend Tribune 9/13/1999
Ralph E. Jones, 96, of The Forum at
the Crossing in Indianapolis, Ind., formerly of South Bend, Ind.,
died on Sunday, Sept. 12, in the retirement center. Born on Aug.
15, 1903, in Mishawaka, Ind., Mr. Jones was the second son of
Harvey W. and Victoria Gaylor Jones.
On June 7, 1930, Mr. Jones married Elouise (Wade)
Jones, daughter of the late Raymond J. Wade, a Methodist bishop.
She survives. Mr. Jones was educated in the Mishawaka Public
Schools, graduating from Mishawaka High School in 1921. He
graduated in 1925 from DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., with
a BA degree. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
After working in the advertising department
of the Studebaker Corporation, Mr. Jones was co-founder and
president of his own advertising agency, Jones and Taylor, Inc.,
of South Bend. He was active in church, civic and philanthropic
organizations, and served as president of various organizations
including the South Bend Industrial Peace Board, the
Merchandising Club of St. Joe Valley, the Industrial Foundation,
and the St. Joseph County Board of Aviation Commissioners. He was
also a past president of the Rotary Club of South Bend where he
had been a member since 1944, and received the Frank C. Rogers
Community Service Award in 1985. Mr. Jones also served as editor
of the Studebaker Wheel, was director of the YMCA, general
chairman of the Community Prayer Breakfast, chairman of the South
Bend Council of Conservation of Critical Resources, chairman of
the Council of Churches Finance Campaign, and was head of
Community Chest Public Relations. He was a trustee of Memorial
Hospital for 20 years, a charter member of the Michiana Arts and
Sciences Council, and was a board member of the St. Joseph County
Cancer Society. He served various years as trustee and chairman
of the official board of the First Methodist Church of Mishawaka
and, in later years, became an active member of the First
Methodist Church of South Bend. Mr. Jones was a past member of
the Indiana Club, the South Bend Country Club, and Junto.
He is survived by three children, Gaylor
Wade Jones and his wife, Joyce of Petoskey, Mich., Linda J. Matthews
and her husband, James of Indianapolis, and Karen J. Anderson
and her husband, Michael of Quincy, Ill.; seven grandchildren,
Jeffrey, Steve and Toby Jones, and Jamie Shier, Karen Bloch,
Tammy Campbell and Maggie Rose; and by eight
great-grandchildren, Taylor and Cameron Jones, Michael and Cory
Jones, Max and Bailey Shier, and Tyler and Brandon Bloch. Mr.
Jones was preceded in death by a brother, Albert G. Jones.
Memorial services will be held at 3:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the First United Methodist Church of
South Bend, where friends may call one hour before services.
Memorials may be made to DePauw University, Greencastle, or to
the First United Methodist Church, South Bend.