Lyle Dean Jones (97) of Shelbyville

Lyle Dean Jones, 97, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 2:20 a.m. Sunday, December 11, 2022 in Shelbyville Manor.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 15, 2022 in Glenwood Cemetery with Rev. Rob Dillingham officiating and military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Thursday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565. Memorials may be given to the Roy Vanderpool American Legion Post #81 or V.F.W. Post #4829 both in Shelbyville, IL.

Lyle was born on February 13, 1925 in Clarksburg, IL, the son of Delbert W. and Hazel O. (Davis) Jones. He was united in marriage to Ruth G. Murphy on August 4, 1945. She preceded him in death on April 23, 2005. Lyle was inducted into the Army-Air Force in June of 1943 and was a veteran of WW II. While on his 30th mission on April 8, 1945 his plane was shot down over Stendal, Germany, only he and one other crew member survived. They were POW until Allied Forces liberated them. He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Bronze Clusters, the American Defense, American Theater with 3 Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart and the POW Medal. Lyle worked for B.P. Patrick as the manager of the Ben Franklin Store in Shelbyville before becoming the owner for many years. He retired in 1982.

Surviving are his children, Mary Gritzmacher and husband Charles of Shelbyville, IL, Judy Gilmore and husband Don of Morristown, TN, Randy Jones of Silverhill, AL and Sheri Wagner and husband Brian of Alamogordo, NM; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth Jones; and brother, Delbert Jones, Jr.

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