CENTRALIA — Bruce Jones, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away suddenly on May 23, 2023. He was 71.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol; his two sons, Erik, of Edwardsville, Illinois, and Kyle, of Charlotte, North Carolina; his four beloved grandboys, Paxton, Ryker, Connor, and Wyatt; and his two daughters-in-law, Shannon and Karissa, who he adored. He was part of a large family that he cherished, including his siblings, Bill and Charlotte, their spouses, and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Jones; his mother, Dorothy (Marple) Jones; and his sister, Vickie (Jones) MacDonald.
Bruce wore many hats throughout a full life of love and laughter. Most recently, he was a proud and playful “Poppy” to his four grandsons. He served as their number one fan and supporter, whether it was cheering them on at a baseball, basketball, or soccer game, attending a music recital, or giving them his trademarked”Poppy love pat” when he saw them. In addition to being the best Poppy around, Bruce was known for having a tireless work ethic throughout his life. In 1987, he joined his brother-in-law, David Mitchell, to create Office Products Center and Mitchell Printing, which had locations in Centralia and Salem for more than thirty years and continues to operate in Centralia.
Bruce was also committed to serving his adopted hometowns of Centralia and Salem. He was active in public service and non-profits throughout the forty-seven years he lived in the area. He was a long-time member of the School Board for Centralia City School District #135, eventually serving as its president, and he held various roles for the Salem Rotary Club, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Kaskaskia District School Board, Centralia Community Resource Center, and Centralia Downtown Retail Merchants Association. In recent years, he was especially proud of the role he played in founding and developing the Greater Salem Area Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting those who fall upon hard times.
Bruce grew up in Cottage Hills, Illinois, and graduated from Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto in 1970. He moved to Centralia in 1976, shortly after graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. While attending SIUE, he met the love of his life, Carol, on a dance floor, and followed her back to Centralia, where they were married in 1977 and raised their two sons, Erik and Kyle. Later in life, Bruce returned to SIUE to obtain a Master’s Degree in Psychology, which he used to become an Adjunct Professor at Kaskaskia College for more than fifteen years.
Bruce was a doting father whose legacy of unconditional love and dedication to causes beyond himself live on in his sons and their two families. He was forever curious and loved so much about this life, whether it was traveling, seeking out new experiences, asking people about their lives, taking his boat out on Centralia Lake, watching sports (especially the St. Louis Cardinals and the NBA), or listening to the Beatles. But, more than anything, Bruce Jones loved his family.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia. Following the visitation, a Graveside Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia with Pastor Seth Baltzell officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Greater Salem Area Foundation, City Hope Church in Centralia, and Band Aide and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, 618-532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Jones family.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland Funeral Home Facebook page.