Obituary of Evangeline Jones

Lois Evangeline (Vange) Jones (Schwartz) died peacefully on October 14, 2015 at the age of 96 years. Vange is survived by her children; Meredith Watts (Jones), Mark Jones and Jeffery Jones; and her grand children Matt Watts, Amanda Watts, Elliot Jones, Spencer Jones, Arick Jones and Jenny Jones. She was preceded in death by husband Jerome (Jerry) Jones; sister Barbara Denoon (Schwartz); and parents Evangeline Maria Schwartz (Meyers) of Redfield and Henry Schwartz of Spring Green, Wisconsin. Vange was born August 13, 1919 in Redfield South Dakota. She graduated from Redfield High School and North Dakota State College in 1931 with a degree in nutrition. She married her high school sweetheart, Navy Lieutenant Jerome Findlay Jones, a metallurgist and engineer, in 1943 during WWII in Berkeley, California. During the war, Vange worked at the Hunts catsup factory as a nutritionist. To her dying day, she would not eat catsup. After the war, Vange and Jerry moved to Canton, Ohio; Albuquerque New Mexico; and finally, in 1956, Livermore, California where they lived until their deaths. Her home was always open to neighborhood children and friends of her family. Vange liked reading, trips to the mountains, animals, gardening and volunteering. Vange loved cats. While not technically a "cat lady", she did take in the neighborhood cats who were not welcome elsewhere. Vange was a home-maker and much more. She was a dedicated member of the community who volunteered as a hospital auxiliary pink lady, with the Friends of the Library and as a judge at the Alameda County Fair in the Jam and Baked Goods competitions. She was always active and exercised well into her 90's. She attended the Methodist Church. When most people were retiring, Vange (recently widowed) went back to school to get her certificate in child care and worked providing pre and after school care. She worked as a child care professional until she was 87 years old. An interment for close friends and family is scheduled for 10:00 AM Monday November 9, 2015 at the Presidio in San Francisco. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Livermore Methodist Church on East Avenue November 14, 2015 at 3:00 PM. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Vange's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Friends of the Livermore Library or the SPCA.