Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameJames Leo JONES 
404, United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X39N-N1J : accessed 28 October 2015), J Luther Jones, Morton, Alamance, North Carolina, United States,3, James Leo Jones,3, Grace Jones Bishop-Rustand,404, United States Census, 1940,(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW9Q-S94 : accessed 28 October 2015), J Luther Jones, Township 4 Morton, Alamance, North Carolina,261, Betsy Jones Stubblefield
404, United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X39N-N1J : accessed 28 October 2015), J Luther Jones, Morton, Alamance, North Carolina, United States,3, James Leo Jones,3, Grace Jones Bishop-Rustand,404, United States Census, 1940,(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW9Q-S94 : accessed 28 October 2015), J Luther Jones, Township 4 Morton, Alamance, North Carolina,261, Betsy Jones StubblefieldBirthSep 5, 1927, Alamance County, North Carolina3, James Leo Jones
DeathOct 15, 2015, Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina3, James Leo Jones
BurialCremated3, James Leo Jones
FatherJames Luther JONES (1898-1976)
MotherEsther Flossie LEE (1899-1992)
Spouses
BirthJul 23, 1930, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas3, Ruth Bigelow Jones
DeathApr 20, 2017, Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina3, Ruth Bigelow Jones
BurialCremated3, Ruth Bigelow Jones
MarriageOct 29, 19503, James Leo Jones,3, Ruth Bigelow Jones
Obituary Online notes for James Leo JONES
10/20/2015
James Leo Jones
James Leo Jones, 88, passed away peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, surrounded by his family, on October 15, 2015, after a period of declining health. Leo was born on his family farm in Alamance County to Luther and Esther Jones on September 5, 1927.
The third of seven children, Leo grew up in a family that emphasized working hard but also enjoying life. Music played a significant role, and as a teenagers Leo and his sisters performed in several groups and had a live radio show.
Leo traveled to Chicago in 1949 to attend Coyne Electrical College. There he met a pretty nursing student named Ruth Bigelow and they married on October 29, 1950.
After a two-year Army stint at Ft. Jackson, SC, he and Ruth settled back in Alamance County. Soon the first of their seven children was born. Leo split his time between farming and working for Alamance Farm Supply while Ruth was a hospital nurse. When he took a position with Ramsey Feed Company, the family moved to Asheboro for a short while and in 1961 Leo was transferred to Rose Hill.
In Rose Hill, Leo managed Ramsey’s chick hatchery and became involved with civic groups such as the Jaycees and the Lions Club. He and Ruth helped form a Western style square dance group and Leo was the horseshoe champion for years at the annual Poultry Jubilee.
In 1974, Leo was offered a position with Pilch in Statesville, NC, a poultry division of a Dutch company. He was promoted quickly and soon was traveling internationally to offer technical assistance to chicken breeders in Canada, South America, Central America, Europe and Asia. He somehow found time to take up golf during these years, and his late start with the game didn’t stand in the way of his making four holes-in-one. After retiring from Pilch in 1989, he worked part time at Lakewood Golf Club until 2012 when he and Ruth moved to Chapel Hill.
Leo was known for his beautiful and prolific gardens, and he took delight in unusual plants and flowers. Who knew kiwi would grow in Statesville? He repaired golf clubs, enjoyed playing cards, and he continued to record music in his living room “studio.”
But it was Leo’s warm and humorous connection with people that made the greatest impact on all who knew him. He could defuse a tense situation with a joke, he quickly built trust with others, and he treated all people with equal respect. As empty nesters, Leo and Ruth hosted a number of young people from other countries whose visits ranged from one month to two years. Several of those consider themselves family even today.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents, his youngest son Luke, and his brothers Vernon and Gary Jones. He is survived by Ruth, his devoted wife of 65 years, and by his loving children Gary (Kathy) Jones of Tarboro, NC, Sherry Jones of Milledgeville, GA, Christy Jones of Chapel Hill, NC, Rodney Jones of Hillsborough, NC, Ronald Jones of Wingate, NC, and Pam (Kevin) O’Brien of Baltimore, MD. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 8 greatgrandchildren and 1 greatgreat-grandchild who will miss Grandpa Leo terribly.
The family thanks Dr. Jim Manor and the staff at Carrboro Family Medicine as well as the team from Duke Hospice for their attentive and warm care of Leo.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, at Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leo’s name to Music Maker Relief Foundation (www.musicmaker.org) or Duke HomeCare & Hospice (www.gifts.duke.edu/daa).
Condolences may be sent to the family and memories of Leo shared at www.cremnc.com. 3, James Leo Jones
James Leo Jones
James Leo Jones, 88, passed away peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, surrounded by his family, on October 15, 2015, after a period of declining health. Leo was born on his family farm in Alamance County to Luther and Esther Jones on September 5, 1927.
The third of seven children, Leo grew up in a family that emphasized working hard but also enjoying life. Music played a significant role, and as a teenagers Leo and his sisters performed in several groups and had a live radio show.
Leo traveled to Chicago in 1949 to attend Coyne Electrical College. There he met a pretty nursing student named Ruth Bigelow and they married on October 29, 1950.
After a two-year Army stint at Ft. Jackson, SC, he and Ruth settled back in Alamance County. Soon the first of their seven children was born. Leo split his time between farming and working for Alamance Farm Supply while Ruth was a hospital nurse. When he took a position with Ramsey Feed Company, the family moved to Asheboro for a short while and in 1961 Leo was transferred to Rose Hill.
In Rose Hill, Leo managed Ramsey’s chick hatchery and became involved with civic groups such as the Jaycees and the Lions Club. He and Ruth helped form a Western style square dance group and Leo was the horseshoe champion for years at the annual Poultry Jubilee.
In 1974, Leo was offered a position with Pilch in Statesville, NC, a poultry division of a Dutch company. He was promoted quickly and soon was traveling internationally to offer technical assistance to chicken breeders in Canada, South America, Central America, Europe and Asia. He somehow found time to take up golf during these years, and his late start with the game didn’t stand in the way of his making four holes-in-one. After retiring from Pilch in 1989, he worked part time at Lakewood Golf Club until 2012 when he and Ruth moved to Chapel Hill.
Leo was known for his beautiful and prolific gardens, and he took delight in unusual plants and flowers. Who knew kiwi would grow in Statesville? He repaired golf clubs, enjoyed playing cards, and he continued to record music in his living room “studio.”
But it was Leo’s warm and humorous connection with people that made the greatest impact on all who knew him. He could defuse a tense situation with a joke, he quickly built trust with others, and he treated all people with equal respect. As empty nesters, Leo and Ruth hosted a number of young people from other countries whose visits ranged from one month to two years. Several of those consider themselves family even today.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents, his youngest son Luke, and his brothers Vernon and Gary Jones. He is survived by Ruth, his devoted wife of 65 years, and by his loving children Gary (Kathy) Jones of Tarboro, NC, Sherry Jones of Milledgeville, GA, Christy Jones of Chapel Hill, NC, Rodney Jones of Hillsborough, NC, Ronald Jones of Wingate, NC, and Pam (Kevin) O’Brien of Baltimore, MD. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 8 greatgrandchildren and 1 greatgreat-grandchild who will miss Grandpa Leo terribly.
The family thanks Dr. Jim Manor and the staff at Carrboro Family Medicine as well as the team from Duke Hospice for their attentive and warm care of Leo.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, at Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leo’s name to Music Maker Relief Foundation (www.musicmaker.org) or Duke HomeCare & Hospice (www.gifts.duke.edu/daa).
Condolences may be sent to the family and memories of Leo shared at www.cremnc.com. 3, James Leo Jones