William Earl Jones, 82, Former President of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club
William Earl Jones, 82 of Lorain, died suddenly on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 in Livorno, Italy while on a vacation cruise with his wife and grandchildren.
He was born December 9, 1924 in Dover, moving to Vermilion in 1970 from Youngstown. He had lived in Lorain since 2000.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy for 3 years, during WWII in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, and was active in the convoy at the atomic bombing.
He graduated from Dover High School and attended Ohio State University.
He started his career with Ohio Edison in 1960 at the Youngstown Division and later was promoted to the Lake Erie Division in 1970 as supervisor of residential electric sales. He retired with over 30 years of service and was the recipient of the Ohio Edison Gerry Miller Memorial Award of Excellence.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Vermilion. He was also a member of the Vermilion American Legion Post # 397 and the Vermilion AMVETS Post #22. A noted public speaker, he was a member of the Ohio Edison speakers club and a charter member of the Lorain Speakers Club. He was president of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, receiving the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award. He served as chairman of the Vermilion Festival of Fish. He was an active Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts troop leader.
He enjoyed golf, playing cards, gardening, and vacationing with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth (nee: Lahmers) of Lorain; sons and daughter in laws, Douglas & Cheryl Jones of Troy, and Christopher & Lee Ann Jones of Columbia Station; 2 granddaughters, Sarah and Samantha Jones of Columbia Station; sister, Nancy Donato of Armond Beach, FL; brother, Kenneth Jones of Dover.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cliford and Charlene (nee: Van Fossen) Jones, brother, Benny Jones and sister, Ruth Henry.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 19, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion.
Prayers will be said at the funeral home on Friday at 12:30 p.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion. The Reverend Jim Holmer, pastor, will be the celebrant. Entombment will follow in Meadow Green Cemetery, Huron. Military honors will be conducted by the Vermilion Veterans Council.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society Ohio Division Inc., 10501 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.