Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m., with a memorial service at 7 p.m., Friday, at our Miller & Miller Colonial Chapel. & 9 a.m. until Mass time Saturday at the church
Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Saturday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S. Green River Rd. Burial in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Thomas J. Jones, Sr., 79, of Evansville, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at home. He was born on July 28, 1936, in Elizabeth, New Jersey to the late Thomas V. Jones and Helen Rita (Kanane) Jones Weger. He moved to Evansville in the summer of 1952.
He is a 1956 graduate of Memorial High School. He attended the University of Evansville, St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, the University of Southern Indiana, and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. He is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the University of Notre Dame. In 1965, he was selected by the IN Jaycees as one of the Top Ten Young Men in IN. He is listed in the 1971 edition of Personalities of the West and Mid-West, and the 1974 edition of Who's Who in Indiana. He was featured in the What's Developing publication of the Indiana Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, under the caption entitled "Profile of a Professional". In 2014, River Pointe Health Campus recognized him as the Volunteer of the Year for over 7 years of conducting communion services for its' Catholic residents.
Tom worked with (and for) the mentally disabled for 25 years (21 years as an agency executive director). He was program Director of Adult Services for the Evansville Assoc. for Retarded Citizens for 4 years; Executive Director of the Howard County ARC (Kokomo, IN) for 2 years and Executive Director of the Evansville ARC for 19 years. He instituted many innovative programs for both the Evansville ARC and Howard County ARC. He was instrumental in the construction of the two new facilities for the Evansville ARC, and for acquiring a building and land for the expansion of the programs for the Howard County ARC. He was instrumental in bringing a national regional convention of the National Assoc. for Retarded Citizens to Evansville. He retired from Old National Bank after 10 1/2 years.
He had been a member of the inaugural organizational committee for the IN Special Olympics and was the official photographer for the first Olympics held at Busch Stadium in Indianapolis. Tom established the first Infant Development and Stimulation Program for the mentally disabled in Southern IN. He was a member of the state task force that established the IN Protection and Advocacy Service Commission for the Developmentally Disabled, and was instrumental in its final passage by the IN Senate. He also served as Chairman of the Indiana Dept. of Mental Health's Southern Zonal Advisory Board for its Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. He was the first local assoc. executive director (elected by his peers) to the Board of Directors of the IN Assoc. for Retarded Citizens. Tom had served as Chairman and Secretary of the IN Conference of Executive Directors of Assocs. for Retarded Citizens and Vice President of the IN Chapter of the International Assoc. of Rehabilitation Facilities. He served as a member on various state advisory task forces and committees regarding the mentally disabled. He also served as chairman of the conference of Executives of United Way Agencies of Southwestern IN. For a short time, he served a Vocational Expert for the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals for the U.S. Social Security Administration. He is a past secretary, president and Chairman of the Salary Negotiation Committee of the Evansville Area Catholic High School Board. He served as the first Vice President of the newly organized Cullen and Hoosier Ave. Neighborhood Assoc. He was also a member of the Evansville Downtown Quarterback Club, AARP, the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild, and the Holy Cross History Assoc.
Tom was a Past Vice and President of the Memorial High School Athletic Booster Club and a Life Director on its board. He served as Commissioner for the Memorial High School Grade School Football Feeder League for 11 years. For 26, years, he served as the public-address announcer for both Memorial High School's home football and basketball games. He also served on the Don Ping Scholarship Committee for 3 years. He also had served on the Board of Directors of the Marian Day School (now known as Marian Education Outreach).
He was a charter member of the local Knights of Columbus, Saint Benedict Cathedral Council 7544, having held the office of Grand Knight for 6 years. He also held the offices of Deputy Grand Knight, Treasurer, Recorder, Advocate and Trustee. In 2006, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus awarded him a Life Membership in the Third Degree of the Order. In 2011, he was granted a Life Membership in the Fourth Degree of the Order. He was Commander of the local Fourth Degree Honor Guard for 6 years. In 2015, the local Knights of Columbus Council awarded him the Knight of the Year Award. The state council of IN (that same year) awarded him the Outstanding Catholic Lay Person Award. In 2009, he was chosen as a co-honoree of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree installation class. He was also a Third Degree member of the Knights of St. John, St. Joseph Commandery #306 and held the office of trustee for 2 years. In 2012, he was chosen as the Knight of the Year by the IN Grand Commandery of the Knights of St. John. In 2007, Holy Rosary Catholic Church awarded him the Msgr. Maurilius E. Bilskie Award for outstanding and devoted service to the church. In 2008, the Diocese of Evansville awarded him membership in the Brute' Society in recognition of his generous sharing of time, talent and treasure. In 2011, the Visiting Nurse Assoc. recognized him for his continued financial support; and he was a member of the Assoc.'s Legacy Societies. He is a life member of the Memorial Booster Club Board of Directors. In 2007, the Memorial High School Athletic Booster Club presented him with the Dennis Heathcotte Athletic Booster Club Award for his service to Memorial Athletics.
In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janet in 1966; and his wife of 31 years, Mary R. (Broerman) in 1996; also a sister, Mary Jane Trent; brother-in-law, Thomas Trent; and nephews, David, Michael, and Bobby Trent.
Tom is survived by sons, Thomas J. Jr. and his wife, Judy of Mont Belvieu, TX, Daniel P. and his wife, Brenda of Marion, IL; daughter, Beth A. of Pembroke Pines, FL; sisters, Anne Pendle, Darlyne Weger both of Evansville; 2 grandchildren, Mary E. Jones, Emily N. Jones; and 10 nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S. Green River Rd., Evansville, Ind., Rev. Fr. Bernard Etienne will officiate and burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m., with a memorial service at 7 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2016 at Titzer Family Funeral Homes, Miller & Miller Colonial Chapel, 100 E. Columbia St., Evansville, Ind., (812) 424-9274. Additional visitation will be 9 a.m. until Mass time Saturday at the church.
Sympathy wishes to the family may be made at www.titzerfuneralhomes.com