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Jones, R. Ellen
IOWA CITY - R. Ellen Jones, 85, of Iowa City, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at First Christian Church in Coralville. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service.
Ellen was born July 13, 1925, in Keswick, Iowa, the daughter of Ivan and Gladys (Parke) Thompson. She attended schools in Iowa City, graduating from City High School in 1943, and later she receiving her B.A. degree from the University of Iowa. Before her marriage to M. Dean Jones on Aug. 28, 1951, she taught Home Economics classes in the Montezuma School District. Following her marriage she maintained their home and cared for her husband and children. She was always the silent push behind her husband's numerous business interests throughout the years.
Ellen was very active in this community in volunteering, supporting numerous organizations, and her church. She and her family have been longtime members of First Christian Church. She was a member of the Home Economics Society at the University of Iowa, PEO Chapter E, TTT, was an avid bridge and euchre player, and was a strong supporter of University of Iowa athletics, having established the Dean and Ellen Jones Athletic Scholarship Fund.
Her family includes a son, Charles and his wife, Bev, Jones of Bloomington, Minn.; daughters-in-law, Lisa Cravens of Fort Aransas, Texas and Ethel Jones of North Liberty; grandchildren, Jerry (J) Martin Jones, Jon Martin Jones, Jeffrey Martin Jones, Tiffany Marie Quintana, Chad Jones and Scott Van Oss; three great-grandchildren, Dustin, Crystal and Spencer; sister, Doris King of Waterloo; and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dean; sons, Michael and Jerry; and five brothers and sisters.
Memorial donations can be made in Ellen's memory to Iowa City Hospice or Oaknoll Retirement Residence.
Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at
Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Ellen's family and her services.
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