Patricia A. Jones, 76, of Battle Creek, passed away December 11, in Chicago, IL surrounded by family. Born in Harvey, IL but raised in Queens, NY, Patricia was an avid reader and scholar from an early age. With one of the highest scores on the NY Regents exams, it was assumed Pat would attend Columbia University but a photo-spread and article in the New York Times about the wide-open spaces of Nebraska prompted her to apply to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Upon her admission, she and her mother Dorothy and sister Heather relocated 1100 miles west to Lincoln. She met Robert H. Jones (from McCook, NE) at a Presbyterian youth event and they were married in 1956, a week after she graduated cum laude and was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. She was immediately offered and accepted a job teaching English in the Lincoln, NE public schools. During her teaching career, she taught high school English in Slidell, LA, Clinton, IA, Franklin and Carmel, IN, and Saginaw, MI. Moving to Battle Creek in 1990 when her husband Robert was installed as Postmaster of Battle Creek, Pat became director of Volunteers at Kimball House Museum. She held elected positions in the League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, and a variety of positions at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek. She is survived by her sister Heather of Saratoga Springs, UT; and children, Stephen Jones (and Chris Hill), Chicago, IL; Diana Rhodes (and husband, James), Yakima, WA; and Alex Jones (and wife, Emily) Westfield, IN; and granddaughters, Jessica and Regan. A private family service will be held this Spring at the family cemetery in Fort Collins, CO. Notes of condolence can be sent to the family in care of the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek.

Published in Battle Creek Enquirer on Thursday December 15, 2011 Page A6 col. 2