Jim was born on September 8, 1921, in Racine, WI, to the late Ellsworth “Penny” Jones and Alice Cahoon Jones. He was united in marriage on June 17, 1950, to Winifred Hansen Jones. He is preceded in death by his wife, Winner, and brothers, Richard V. Jones and Stanford Jones.He is survived by a daughter, Ann Jones Pettibone, and son-in-law Richard of Racine; three grandsons, Ryan Pettibone, Evan Pettibone and Andrew Pettibone; and step-grandson Jason Usher; his brother, Rod Jones of Maitland, FL; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marilyn Jones, Colleen and Chuck Foster, Niel and Ruth Hansen; nieces and nephews, Sally (Jones) Orth, Richard “Casey” Jones, Steve Jones, Betsy (Jones) Allman, Amy (Jones) Zahalka, David Foster, Mike Foster, Jenny (Foster) Skunes; other nieces and nephews and relative and dear friends.
Jim served in the Navy in World War II as a Lieutenant and Captain of an Air Sea Rescue boat and was graduated from Grinnell College. He began his career in Racine at SC Johnson and Sons. Jim started as the editor of the J-Wax weekly and after thirty-one years of service he retired in 1980 as the Director of Public Relations. He then continued to work as a consultant for Samuel C. Johnson at Johnson Keland Management.
In retirement, Jim, an avid sailor, took up crewing on tall ships. He sailed on the True North and several times on the Soren Larsen. He was a writer, watercolor painter, a gardener and baker.
He was the recipient in the retiree category of the H.F. Johnson Community Service Award. He was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation and Volunteer of the Year for Arts and Culture by the Volunteer Center of Racine County.
In his career and especially in his retirement, Jim was involved in numerous civic activities. In addition to being a deacon of First Presbyterian Church, he helped develop and then served for 20 years as talent director for the Animal Crackers Jazz Series, fund-raising program for the Racine Zoo. Jim served on the board of the Racine Symphony, Racine Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse, Friends of the Racine Library, Careers Industries and Racine Heritage Museum.
He also served on committees of the United Way, the United Arts Council, Salmon-a-Rama, the Old Boats-Old Friends Wooden Boat Show, Bike-a-thon for the arts, Prairie School annual Fund, Riverbend’s Save our Beaches program. Jim was also involved in many Downtown Redevelopment projects; he was co-chair for the Festival of Trees, helped create the Racine on the lake Sailing Classic and the appearance of the Carson and Barnes Circus.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested contributions to Racine Heritage Museum, 701 Main St., Racine, WI 53403' Kids First, 245 Main Street STE 11-2, Racine, WI 53403; Riverbend, 3600 N. Green Bay Road, Racine, WI 53404.
A memorial service for Ellsworth “Jim” Jones will be held Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at 11 a.m. at The First Presbyterian Church of Racine, 7th Street and College Ave., with Rev. Ben Johnson-Krase, Rev. Melanie Hammond Clark, and Rev. Dr. Mark McDonough officiating. Private interment will be held at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family during a reception to follow the service at the church.
MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888
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