SYRACUSE – Robert LaVerne Jones, 84, of Syracuse, died Sept. 13, 2011.
He was born March 28, 1927, in Peru, to Clark Robert and Ethel Mae Pinkerton Jones. On Aug. 29, 1948, he married Jeanne O’Harra. They later divorced. He then married Rosalyn Rice, who survives.
He graduated from Peru High School in 1944, served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-46, then graduated from Indiana University in 1949, majoring in statistics. He was a bank examiner, covering the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. He then worked as a loan officer in a small bank in Syracuse. In 1958, he was branch manager of a bank in Rolling Prairie, LaPorte County, and later was promoted to a vice president position and worked at the main bank in Michigan City. Later he and several friends bought the State Bank, Syracuse, where he was president until 1976. After a short stint as a bookstore owner, he became a full-time professor in the business school at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. He taught part-time over many years at various branches, IU, South Bend; Purdue Northwest; IU at Gary; and IU at East Chicago. He received a master’s degree in business in 1962, and later a doctorate of business in 1978, both from the University of Notre Dame. He was a choir director at various church with more than 40 years at Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse. He sang in various choruses including Goshen College and several plays at the former Enchanted Hills Playhouse. He directed the choir at the Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, and served as treasurer of the Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
Also surviving are four children: Mark (and spouse Sue) Jones, Alpena, Mich.; Becky (and spouse Howard) Rogers, Middletown: Pamela (and spouse Jef) Davidson, Bloomington; and Wendy (and spouse Takehito) Nakanishi, Takamatsu, Japan; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Jim, Richmond, Va. He was preceded in death by his first wife.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse, with Pastor David Herr officiating. Burial will be in Syracuse Cemetery with military honors.
Calling is from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse, is in charge of arrangements.
***** Memorials may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church or the Syracuse Public Library.
Condolences may be sent via eastlundfuneralhome.com
