Bruce Jones, 85

Bruce M. Jones, age 85, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center following a brief illness.  He was born in Schenectady, NY., the son of the late Duane and Frances (Miller) Jones and moved to Centreville in 1949.

Bruce graduated from Centreville High School in 1951, where he was class Treasurer and attended Boys State.  He furthered his education at Michigan State University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1955.  He served his country honorably as an officer in the Army Corp. of Engineers.

After college and finishing his duty in the Army, he returned to Centreville, where he lived for the rest of his life.  Bruce was engineer and manager of the St. Joseph County Road Commission for 52 years, an active member of the Centreville United Methodist Church, several community organizations, Boy Scout leader and Secretary of the Centreville Alumni Association for decades.

He had a great passion for all sports, but especially for golf and baseball.  He played varsity football, basketball and baseball at Centreville, was a varsity baseball pitcher at Michigan State and played softball well into his 70s.  He was a member of several golf leagues, just finishing four of them over this last summer.  He coached many baseball and softball teams and was the official scorekeeper for Centreville basketball teams for decades.

Bruce was a kind, gentle, patient and humble man, an athlete and competitor his entire life, a rabid Sparty, Tigers and Lions fan.  He had a positive attitude, a spring in his step and a tune whistling on his lips – and always had time to strike up a conversation with anyone he ran into.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Debbie Jones, one sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Dean Downer.

He leaves to cherish his loving memory, his wife, Barbara Ann Jones, of Centreville; three sons, Doug (Yvonne) Jones, of Three Rivers, Daniel Jones, of Colon,  and Shad Carpenter; two daughters, Christine (Rob) Adams, of Tinley Park, IL. and Jackie (Tony) Bowen of Three Rivers, and two brothers, Ken Jones, of Cupertino, CA., and Tom Jones, of Dimondale, MI.; seven beloved grandchildren, Tara and Kylie Adams, Kyzer and Gabrielle Bowen, and Christopher, Adam, and Caitlin Carpenter, many nieces, nephews, special former daughter-in-law Cathleen Carpenter and numerous friends.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Hohner Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Centreville United Methodist Church, 305 E. Main St, Centreville, with Pastor Emily Hansson officiating. Graveside services will follow at Prairie River Cemetery, Centreville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Centreville United Methodist Church or the Centreville Sports Boosters Association.  Envelopes are available at the funeral home.