Everyone at Cowsmo extends our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Lewis.
Lewis Russell Jones, 79, of Westerville, went Home to be with the Lord early Sunday morning, February 26, 2023, following an extended illness.
He was born April 5, 1943 in Greenfield, Ohio, son of the late Reuben Russell and Jenevee (Keels) Jones. On November 11, 1995, he married his beloved wife, Carol Dianna (Harris) Jones, who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Catherine (Michael) Madison, Lewis R. (Renata “Renya” Krempl) Jones, Jr., and Trevor (Jennifer Booz) Jones; grandchildren, David Madison and Jennifer Madison; siblings, Inez Simmons, Eunice (John) Lowe, and Raymond (Diane) Jones; a sister-in-law, Yvonne Jones; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and close friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Nathan Jones, and his brother, Marvin Jones.
Lewis was a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he received his Bachelor’s of Science in 1965. He went on to work as the Buyer and Section Chief at Western Electric Company in Columbus, Ohio. He then became the Operations Manager for the Pillsbury Company’s Grain Division for Cincinnati and Minneapolis. Following that position, he worked as the Auditor for the Federal Milk Market Administrator in Cleveland and Columbus. In 1996, he was hired by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (O.D.A.) to work as the Chief of the Division of Weights and Measures. He was then promoted to the Chief of the Division of Dairy in 1999 and held this position until June 2010, when he was promoted as the Deputy Director of O.D.A. He retired in January 2011 but agreed to a short-term contract at the Executive Secretary of the American Guernsey Association.
Lewis and his wife Carol were active members of the Trinity Baptist Church in Columbus. He received numerous awards associated with his work including being named as a distinguished alumnus of The Ohio State University Alpha Zeta Fraternity in 2005. He was the recipient of the OSU Dairy Science Hall of Service Award in 2011, and served as President and Vice President of the National Association of Dairy Regulatory Officials. He was a delegate and member of the Executive Board of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments, and a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, a member of the Ohio Agricultural Council, and the National Dairy Shrine. In 2019, he was inducted into the Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Old Zion Baptist Church, 536 Mill Street, Chillicothe, with Pastor Victor M. Davis officiating, and Rev. Gerard Green, Eulogist. Burial will follow in Forest Cemetery, Circleville. Friends may join the family for visitation on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 5:00pm-8:00pm at the Haller Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund, 461 St. Clair Ave., Columbus, OH 43203.