SYRACUSE – Rosalyn Jeanne Jones, 72, Syracuse, passed away April 28, 2016, at Goshen Hospital. She was born July 21, 1943, in LaPorte, the daughter of Glenn (a volunteer firefighter) and Ruth Teeter Rice (a piano teacher). On May 22, 1965, at Beck Chapel on IU’s campus, at the end of her junior year of college, she married Robert L. Jones, who preceded her in death in 2011. He was of Syracuse. She grew up in Rolling Prairie. During high school, she played organ for both churches in town, which coordinated their services so that she could play at one church then walk to the other to play for theirs. She graduated from Rolling Prairie High School in 1961 and worked a few years at the local bank before attending college at Indiana University, for two years at IUSB and then in Bloomington. She was encouraged to finish her schooling by her husband and spent her senior year on campus, graduating in 1966. Shortly after her graduation, she was hired as head librarian for the Syracuse Public Library, a job that she would continue until her retirement as executive director over 40 years later. She completed additional studies at IUSB in library science for that profession. Her husband would often remark that he had gone from being the president of the bank to being the husband of the librarian. They loved sailing on Lake Wawasee after work for years, and a crowning achievement was the construction of their Lake Wawasee dream home, which family enjoyed hugely over the years. She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse, and was active in its choir, and would play organ for services when needed and asked by her husband, the choir director. She also was active in playing with a group of musicians who would play weekly at a local nursing home with odd and inexplicable instruments that made great sound and were colorful. She was a member of the Lakeland Community Band and had been a member of a local Red Hats group. She loved art and studied oil painting for decades with Betty Appenzeller, and made her husband a cat lover, too. Surviving are four stepchildren: Mark (and spouse Sue) Jones, Alpena, Mich.; Rebecca (and spouse Howard) Rogers, Lancaster, Pa.; Pamela (and spouse Jef) Davidson, Bloomington; and Wendy (and spouse Takehito) Nakanishi, Takamatsu, Japan; who are forever appreciative for her kindness to their mother, Jeanne Jones; three nieces and a nephew: Tammy (and spouse Ron) Gross, Rolling Prairie; Angel (and spouse Scott) Ness, New Carlisle; Mary(and spouse Keith) Ekelund, Jacksonville, Fla.; Charles Gauck, Seagoville, Texas; 15 grandchildren; 24 grandchildren; and a soon-to-be-born great-grandchild. She also leaves many friends, former library patrons and the dear caregivers who had taken loving care of her for the past seven years as she battled Huntington’s Disease. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Mary; and her mother-in-law, Mae, a potent force. Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Calvary United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Syracuse Cemetery. Calling is one hour before services Sunday at the church. Eastlund Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials to the Syracuse Public Library.
