Last Updated on May 4, 2015 by cassnetwork
James Edward Jones, 86, longtime resident of New Port Richey, Florida, formerly of Wabash and Logansport, died Friday, May 1, 2015.
Born August 15, 1928, in Wabash, Indiana, he was the son of Sherman and Elizabeth (Reed) Jones. He married Shirley Castle of Ridgefarm, IL, in 1951. She preceded him in death in 2008.
Jim graduated from Wabash High School in 1946. He lettered in three sports at Wabash, football, basketball, and track, and he received the Gridiron Medal Award for student athlete his senior year. He then headed to Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana where he graduated with honors in physical education and was a four year varsity letter winner in both football and basketball, and ran track for one year. He was captain of the football team and won MVP his senior year. He also won the E.P. Trueblood Award for outstanding scholar/athlete at Earlham in 1950.
Jim began his teaching and coaching career in Wabash, Indiana in 1950. From 1950-1954 he taught general science at Wabash Jr. High and coached Jr. High and freshman basketball as well as being varsity assistant in football and track. From 1954-1957 he taught physical education at Wabash High School and coached varsity basketball and continued assisting in football and track. In 1957 he earned a Master’s Degree from Ball State University. Jim then moved his family to Logansport in 1957 where he taught physical education and was head basketball coach there until 1969. He took Logansport to the Final Four in 1959 and 1961, won 11 sectionals, 6 regionals, and two semi states.
Jones coached basketball at IU Kokomo from 1969-1972 and then returned to Logansport High as Athletic Director in 1972 until he retired in 1991. During this time he initiated and implemented a girls’ program in nine sports and planned and coordinated physical education and athletic facilities for the new high school that was built. He was named North Central Conference coach of the year in 1958 and 1961 and Indiana High School Athletic Director of the Year in 1978. He was awarded the Charles Maas Distinguished Service Award in 1991.
One of Jim’s proudest moments was being inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 as he was honored for his lifetime achievements as an athlete, coach, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was also inducted into the Earlham College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, the Wabash High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, and was honored in the player division of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.
Jones spent the largest part of his life in Logansport where he was a past president and 30 year member of the Logansport Kiwanis Club. He was a member of CalvaryPresbyterian Church in Logansport where he served as an elder, deacon, trustee, and president of the men’s club. He was an avid golfer enjoying many of his retirement days at the Rolling Hills Par 3 and Dykeman City course in Logansport and then in Florida where Jim and Shirley retired.
Jim was also preceded in death by his brother Clifford Jones of Wabash and grandson Gregory Jones. He is survived by his sister Barbara (husband Bob) Lower of Kokomo and sister in law Lois Jones of Wabash. Also surviving are his four children and their spouses, Susan and Tom Carson of Tarpon Springs, FL; Dianne and Tom Pray of Seneca, SC; Carol and Mark Hirt of Greensburg, IN; and David and Sandy Jones of New Port Richey, FL., along with 10 grandchildren, Andrew Carson, Beth Carson Weinstein, Sarah Carson Alonso, Katie Carson Bernhardt, Matthew Pray, Krista Pray, Heather Hirt Koors, Devin Hirt, Amanda Jones, Jeffrey Jones, and 7 great grandchildren, Michael Carson, Avery Carson, Maggie Pray, Cecilia Pray, Alexandra Pray, Riley Alonso, Peyton Koors.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 701 Spencer Street, Logansport, with a luncheon to follow at the church. Rev. Chuck Compton will officiate the service.
Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at Falls Cemetery, Wabash.
Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2015, at Kroeger Funeral Home, Logansport, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, PO Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, (www.michaeljfox.org) in honor of his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Logansport High School Athletic Department, Calvary Presbyterian Church, 701 Spencer St., Logansport, IN 46947 or a
donation of your choice.
Condolences and personal remembrances may be left online at www.kroegerfuneralhome.com.