Thomas F. JONES Age 75, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of God on November 21, 2002 at home in Shoreline, WA. Born November 3, 1927 in West Seattle, Tom was a lifetime Seattle area native, graduating from Ballard High School in 1946 and from the University of Washington in 1954.

An accomplished athlete and artist in school, Tom excelled in football and baseball, followed by a year of minor league baseball. Tom pursued these skills throughout his life, I including a 28 year career teaching art and ceramics, and coaching at Ballard H.S. and Lake Washington H.S.

After retiring from teaching in 1983, Tom entered a second rewarding career at Senior Community working full time and later part time as the activities director and coordinator. Tom, always preferring to be active, loved to work on new proiects around the house or at the family cabin. There was always something that needed fixing or painting, or plants in the garden that needed pruning or transplanting.

Tom loved to ride his bike and was known to make an occasional unplanned "short" day trip from his home in Shoreline to West Seattle or to Redmond on the Burke-Gilman trail.

At his death he was surrounded by his loving family and close friends. Tom is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ellene, children Rod (Elaine), Doug (Paula), Debra Leigh, grandchildren (Megan, Mark, Laurel & Elizabeth), sisters Rita, Betty and brother Bill. A Memorial Service and Celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, November 26 at 2 p.m. at Cristwood Activity Center, 350 North 190th, Shoreline, Washington. In lieu of flowers, remembrances are suggested to World Concern or the American Cancer Society.

SSN: 540-26-7539

Attended Jefferson Elementary, EC Hughes School, James Monroe Junior High and Ballard High School (Feb 1946)

1942-43 Living at 7014 2nd Ave NW Seattle (this may have been the property they were evicted from)

1944-45 Living 1404 West (now NW) 61st Street (father renting)

June 1945 Played in the All American Boys Game - All State vs King-Pierce County Sicks’ Stadium

Summer of 1945 - Played baseball for Sick’s Hi Stars

Fall 1945 - Played Football at Ballard HS

Winter 1945 - Played Basketball at Ballard HS


Finished school early in winter of 1945 to enter Acitve Duty in the Navy V-12 Program of Feb. 28, 1946 (Berkeley California). Entered naval service Feb 28, 1945 and was discharged June 7, 1946.

V-5 Pre-Flight Schools were established in five locations: at the University of Iowa in Iowa City (opened on April 15, 1942), at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (established on February 1, 1942, opened that May), at the University of Georgia campus in Athens (contract NOd3035 signed on March 19, 1942, and opened on June 18, 1942), and two in California: at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and at the Hotel Del Monte at Monterey Bay[ (a lease that would lead to a purchase of the resort and ultimately in 1951, becoming the Naval Postgraduate School). Astronaut John Glenn was in the first V-5 class at Iowa, where the aspiring carrier fighter pilots were nicknamed the Seahawks. Personnel at Chapel Hill included future presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford, along with MLB star Ted Williams, where they were known as the Cloudbusters. Cadets in California included Ed McMahon and Dennis Weaver. At St. Mary's, they were known as the Air Devils. Their nickname at Georgia was the Skycrackers. In early 1943, flight preparatory schools were established at 17 colleges and universities. In July, 1943 the V-5 and V-7 programs were merged into the new V-12 program. V-5 students were reclassified as V-12A (with the A standing for Aviation). Candidates had to attend four 4-month semesters (or 10-week "quarters") of college before attending Pre-Flight or could opt to transfer to the NROTC. The V-12 program differed in that it was focused on college education and it eliminated the Naval Flight Preparatory School and War Training Services stages.45


Summer of 1946 Played for the Sick’s Hi Stars
Summer 1946 - Played baseball for Ballard Boys Club team.

Fall 1946 - Played football for the Ballard Boys Club team.

Feburary 1947 - signs with the Salem Baseball Club (Salem Senators, Western International League, Salem is associated with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League) and reports to Medford for spring training. He is given his outright release on April 11th.

Will play for the Medford Craters (Nor Cal League) that summer (1947). He is njured twice during the season, the second time is a major fracture of his leg.

In August of 1947 he is signed by the San Barbara Dodgers (C League) to a minor league contract for the 1948 Season.

Tom is unable to play in 1948 due to his injury and is assigned to the Voluntary Retired List. He will work for the Medford Dodgers as a handy man for the 1948 season. He brings the team bus west from N. Carolina in the spring for the team.

In 1949 the Dodgers again ask him to report, he is unable due to his injury, and is assigned to the inactive restricted list.

Attended Burnley School of Art and Design (will later become the Art Institute of Seattle) Focus on Graphic Design. Did some window displays for Frederick and Nelson. Sept. 1948 to May 1949.

Attends the University of Washington, major Art and Education.

Sept 1954 begins teaching career at Oak Lake Elementary School Seattle

Sept 1955 taught art at Queen Anne’s junior-high school

1956 Began teaching at Ballard HS, Seattle, Art and Asst Football Coach

Feb 1956, installed as Youth Director at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church Seattle

1957 Teaching at Ballard HS, Seattle, Asst Football Coach

Recieves Standard General Teaching Certificate 8/27/1958

1958 Teaching at Ballard HS, Seattle, Head Tennis Coach

1959 Teaching at Ballard HS, Seattle. Asst. Football and Baseball Coach

Family living at 10313 13th Ave NW Seattle WA (not sure what year home was purchased. Grandmother Klein loaned Tom and Ellene money for the downpayment)

1965 Teaching and Coaching at Ballard High School

1966 Began teaching and coaching at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland

1983 Retired from teaching.

1991 Purchased Lot in Ponderosa Community near Plain, WA. Began building the family summer home that year.

1985-1997 worked at Cristwood as Activities Director for the retirement center.