Rosalyn Jones
Rosalyn Jeanne Jones, 72, of Syracuse, Indiana passed away Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Goshen Hospital. Born on July 21, 1943 in LaPorte, IN, Rosalyn grew up in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, the daughter of Glenn (a volunteer firefighter) and Ruth (Teeter) Rice (a piano teacher). During high school, Rosalyn 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. Rosalyn 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. At the end of her Junior year of college she was married on May 22, 1965 to Robert L. Jones of Syracuse, Indiana at Beck Chapel on IU’s campus. 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 in Syracuse, IN, 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 in Syracuse and 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.
Mrs. Jones is survived by 4 step-children, Mark (Sue) Jones of Alpena, MI; Rebecca (Howard) Rogers of Lancaster, PA; Pamela (Jef) Davidson of Bloomington, IN; and Wendy (Takehito) Nakanishi of Takamatsu, JAPAN, who are forever appreciative for her kindness to their Mother Jeanne Jones. She is also survived by 3 nieces and one nephew; Tammy (Ron) Gross of Rolling Prairie; Angel (Scott)Ness of New Carlisle, IN; Mary(Keith) Ekelund of Jacksonville, FL, and Charles Gauck of Seagoville,Texas, also 15 grandchildren, 24 grandchildren and a soon to be born great-grandchild. She also leaves many friends, former library patrons, and the dear care-givers who had taken loving care of Rosalyn for the past 7 years as she battled Huntington’s Disease. She was preceded in death by her deeply beloved husband, Robert in 2011, her parents, her sister, Mary, and her mother-in-law Mae, a potent force.
Funeral services are Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 4:00 PM at Calvary United Methodist Church, with visitation at 3pm. Burial will be at Syracuse Cemetery. Eastlund Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Syracuse Public Library.