Benjamin A. Jones Jr., 89, passed away at 5:15 P.M. on Monday, September 21, 2015 at Meadowbrook Health Center, Urbana.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A. M. on Friday, September 25, 2015 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana. A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at 1:30 P.M. on Friday at Friends Creek Cemetery in Argenta.

Ben was born on a farm near Mahomet, IL on April 16, 1926 to Benjamin and Grace (Morr) Jones. They preceded him in death. He had one older brother, Walter P. Jones who passed away in May of 2015.

He is survived by beloved wife of 66 years, Georgeann nee Hall and their two daughters; Nancy K. Kepple (Daniel) of Spring Grove, IL and Ruth A. (Robert) Sommers of Reno, NV. He is also survived by five grandchildren, three step grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

After serving in the United States Navy (1944-1946), Benjamin completed his B.S. (1949) and M.S. (1950) degrees in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Illinois. He married Georgeann Hall in Decatur, IL on September 11, 1949. In 1950 the couple went to the University of Vermont where Ben had an appointment as assistant professor of Agricultural Engineering. After two years, they returned to Urbana and Ben completed a PhD (1958) in Civil Engineering and became a professor in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Illinois, ultimately becoming Associate Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He retired in 1992.

Benjamin was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Urbana, the Exchange Club of Urbana and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the U of I Foundation- Agricultural Engineering Department.