Philip K. Jones

Philip K. Jones died on March 1, 2025, at age 90 at St. Vincent hospital. The thoughts and prayers of his family and friends helped ease his passing. Phil was born at St. Vincent hospital in Indianapolis on March 16, 1934, to Ernest W. and Mary (Keenan) Jones. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes elementary school and then went on to St. Meinrad Seminary where he graduated in 1960 and was ordained a Catholic priest. While a priest, he earned Masters Degrees from Butler University and from Indiana University Bloomington. He served as an Assistant Pastor and taught at diocesan high schools in Madison and Indianapolis. He was especially proud of the singing group he formed at Fr. Michael Shawe High School in Madison called the Shawe Chorale. He produced an LP record album of their best songs. Phil was active in civil rights issues, serving on the Mayor’s Commission in Madison. He was appointed Vice Principal of Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis when it opened in 1964 and served until 1967. He then served as Pastor at St. Jude’s Church in Spencer, Indiana, and taught for two years in the academic History of Religion Department at Indiana University Bloomington.

After resigning from the priesthood in 1969, Phil married Carolyn Ann Kalb in 1970 and they moved to the San Francisco area. He worked for several educational companies during their time in California, returning to Indianapolis in 1974 to join Pictorial Publishing Co. as head of their editorial department. He retired as Vice President after 25 years. Phil was active at St. Thomas Aquinas parish, serving on the Parish Council, including one year as President and many years as a cantor. Always a sports fan, he helped coach his kids in basketball, youth soccer and Little League baseball. He volunteered with Junior Achievement, with the Executive Service Corp., and for many years regularly drove the van used by the Gennesaret Free Clinic, which provides medical service to the homeless community in Indianapolis. He served on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place, a non-profit that provides care and resources to seniors. After retirement, he spent a good deal of time researching his family history, ultimately publishing Keeping Up With the Joneses, a family genealogy in book form. Phil & Carolyn enjoyed a number of trips to Europe, as well as several cruises with family and close friends. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa professional education fraternity and of the American Mensa Society.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister MaryLou (Drake) and his brother David. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years Carolyn (Kalb) Jones, sister-in-law Pat (Coe) Jones, his sons Christian P. (Adriana Don) Jones and Daniel K. Jones and his daughter Karen Suzanne (Kevin) O’Malley, all of Indianapolis, his grandchildren Gabriel Jones, Benjamin Jones, Cassidy O’Malley and Aidan O’Malley, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on March 11, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, at Flanner Buchanan - Broad Ripple, 1305 Broad Ripple Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 4600 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46208, on March 12, 2025, at 11:00 am, with visitation preceding from 10:00 to 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in Phil's memory to: JDRF (Now called Breakthrough T1D) or Gennesaret Free Clinic