Whipple Van Ness Jones Jr.

Whipple Van Ness Jones, Jr. (Van) passed away on March 6, 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida. Van was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 26, 1942, to Whipple Van Ness Jones (Whip) and Mary Sue (Suzie) McCulloch Linden. He grew up in New York, NY, Miami Beach, FL, Oconomowoc, WI, Aspen, CO, and Spring Lake, NJ. He graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, CT and then received both a B.Ed. and a M.Ed. from the University of Miami. After being awarded his Master's degree Van's interest turned to politics and he worked in Richard Stone's campaign for Florida Secretary of State. When Secretary Stone was sworn in, Van was asked to move to Tallahassee to be Executive Assistant and Office Manager in the Department of State. He also served as Acting Director of the Division of Corporations. In 1974 Secretary Stone won a seat as a U.S. Senator. Senator Stone asked Van to run his constituent services and manage his Florida offices. Van (along with others from Senator Stone's office) wrote and published Dear Congressman - Help! to educate and assist constituents in solving day-to-day problems. The Secretary of Business Regulation asked Van to be the Director of the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering for the State of Florida. This Division regulated all Greyhound, Jai Alai, Thoroughbred, Harness and Quarter Horse tracks in the State as well as licensing all who worked at these facilities. Van always commented that this was the best government job in Florida. Van later worked for the Leon County Board of County Commissioners in several roles and retired as the Director of Management Information Services. He was active in the community and served on several Boards including the Capital Area YMCA, The Innovation Park Board of Governors, the United Way of the Big Bend and the Florida State Board of Accountancy where he became the only non-CPA to serve as Chairman of that Board. He was a member of the Vestry and Jr. Warden at St. John's Episcopal Church as well as the Vestry at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral. Van is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maryann Causseaux Jones, four children, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. A memorial service will be held May 16, 2024 at 3:00 pm at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32309. Interment will follow immediately in the St. Peter's Columbaria. The family will meet friends in the Parish Hall following the service. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Dr. Michael Forsthoefel, Dr. Chesley Durgin, Westminster Oaks Bertrand Health Center and Therapy Department and the 3rd Floor ICU at Tallahassee Memorial Mustian Center for their care and support. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32309. (850-701-0664) Rocky Bevis and Dayne Parker of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) are assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Whipple Van Ness Jones Jr.

October 26, 1942 - March 6, 2024