Ronald A. Jones, Jr.

Ronald A. Jones, Jr., age 83, of Grayslake, IL, passed away of natural causes in the comfort of his own home on August 11, 2017. He was born in Chicago on May 20, 1934 to Marie and Ronald A. Jones, Sr. He was a 1952 graduate of Grayslake High School and then a proud "Boilermaker" receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1956. Ron (Bud) and his family moved into the area from Chicago when he was 12 years old. In his youth he enjoyed boating on Druce Lake and Round Lake. In high school he was an announcer for the basketball games. At Purdue he was a radio DJ for the dorms. Also he was a member of The ROTC, later joining the Army Reserves and achieving the rank of Captain. He started his career as an engineer at Caterpillar near Peoria, Illinois where on a blind date he met the girl of his dreams, Verlee. They married in 1958 and were together for 57 years before her passing in 2015. Ron was a man of strict routine and lived his life with incredible attention to details and documentation. But his number one priority was the health, care, and love of his family. With Verlee by his side, they attended countless ball games, concerts, plays, recitals, and graduations. The pride for his children and grandchildren was endless and the love was immense. He is survived by their 4 children, Jeff (Laurie) Jones, Valerie Jones, Vickie (Gordon) Held, and Virginia (Shawn) Fitzgerald. 8 grandchildren, Michelle, Corinne, and Kurt Jones. Anthony, Ben, and Adam Fitzgerald. Emily and Elise Held. Preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley Schalk and wife Verlee. A visitation is scheduled at Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E. Belvedere Rd., Grayslake, IL 60030 on Thursday, August 17, 2017, from 12 to 2 pm with a funeral service immediately following at 2 pm. Private burial. For more information please contact (847)223-8122