Lucille O'Brien Jones

Lucille O'Brien Jones

MARION: Lucille O'Brien Jones, age 99, of Marion, died Tuesday evening, March 15, 2011, at Sunrise of Gahanna.

On December 13, 1911, Lucille was born in Mansfield, Ohio, the daughter of the late Harry and Anna (Johnston) O'Brien. She graduated from Mansfield Senior High School. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education.

After graduating from college, Lucille returned to Mansfield where she worked in retail until 1942. She moved to Marion to teach distributive education at Marion Harding High School where Lewis "L.G." Jones was the music director. Shortly thereafter, Lucille and L.G. were married on August 19, 1943. Together they shared thirty-six years of marriage, until he preceded her in death in 1979.

Once married, Lucille stopped teaching to become a homemaker for L.G. In addition to homemaking, she found her true passion of volunteerism, as she first started volunteering for the American Red Cross in Marion. She dedicated herself to this organization for sixty four years and served as their executive director from 1960 to 1965. Including the Red Cross, Lucille volunteered with Mobile Meals, Marion General Hospital, and Altrusa Club. A woman of faith, Lucille was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served in many roles over the years.

An avid golfer, Lucille always looked forward to golfing at the Marion County Club, where she won many senior tournaments. She was able to golf until age 90 when she could no longer see or swing a club any more, so "she picked up her ball and left." She shared this pastime with her husband, L.G.

Lucille will be dearly missed by her niece, Marlene (Bob) Harvey of Shelby, Ohio; three stepchildren, Janis Nash of Gahanna, Dorothy Baker of Florence, South Carolina, and Lowell (June) Jones of Riverside, California; eight grandchildren; and many great and great-great grandchildren.

Lucille was preceded in death by her two sisters, Babe Ziemke and Katherine Warne; her parents; and her husband.

Lucille's family will greet friends from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services honoring her life will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Stephen Hielkema officiating. Burial will follow in Marion Cemetery.

Rather than flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross or to Tridia Hospice. They may be sent in care of the funeral home.

The family is deeply grateful to the caregivers at Sunrise of Gahanna, and to Tridia Hospice. They have all been extremely kind and caring.

For those wishing to express their private condolences to Lucille's family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.