James Alvey Jones

Illinois - James Alvey Jones, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Naperville, IL.

He was born on September 3, 1940 in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Alvey Edmond Jones and Gladys Louise (Probert) Jones.

Jim was a 1958 graduate of Boardman High School and a 1963 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He earned an MBA at Indiana University in 1966, where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honorary.  On June 15, 1968 he married his wife of 55 years, Madonna Clare Grant of Youngstown, Ohio, who passed away July 9, 2023.

Jim began his distinguished business career at Inland Steel in Chicago, later expanding his expertise into housing, becoming Vice President of Manufacturing for Scholz Holmes in Toledo, Ohio in the 1970s. During this time he and Madonna had two children, Jennifer and Jeffrey. Jim returned to the steel industry when he moved his young family to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to take a position with CECO, and after several years became president of the Steel Joist Division. Jim was an active member of the Steel Joist Institute, eventually becoming President of the national organization. During the 1990s, Jim was able to reconnect with old Inland and Scholz colleagues to return to the Housing Industry, helping to run several Modular Housing Companies including Crest Homes in Milton, PA.  From here, Jim and several close friends then established their own housing corporation in Indiana, Homes By iBS, where Jim served as President and COO of the Pleasant Street Homes division.

Jim was an involved parent and grandparent, and a loyal husband, brother, and uncle. He made sure the family stayed connected through yearly vacations to the lake and holiday visits.  He also loved staying up to date on all his grandchildren’s latest academic, athletic and artistic pursuits. He was an active alumni of Boardman High School, attending monthly zoom meetings and organizing reunions. He was similarly involved in the alumni association of Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep) and enjoyed planning and attending reunions and events with his fraternity brothers. Family and friends will remember his love of college sports, especially the Hoosiers and the Buckeyes, and his frustrations with the Cleveland Browns and the Tribe.

He will be deeply missed by his children Jennifer Jones-Corley (Kevin) of London, England, Jeffrey Jones (Kimberly) of Wheaton, IL, his grandchildren, Claire and Ellie Corley, and Reagan and Grant Jones, his brother, Gary Jones (Marilyn), sister Kay (John) Labosky, and sisters-in-law Marsha (Joe) Bettura, Jeannie Grant (Lou Zitello) and Kathy Grant, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until 10:55 am on Friday,  April 19, 2024 at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Youngstown where a memorial service will follow at 11:00 am with Pastor Richard Kidd as celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Jim and Madonna can be sent to: The Madonna Grant Jones Scholarship in Education at Youngstown State University Foundation, 655 Wick Ave, Youngstown, OH 44502.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Jim’s family.

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