Josette H. Jones

JOSETTE HOLTZWORTH JONES (84) PASSED AWAY, PEACEFULLY, ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026, IN PLAIN CITY, OHIO WHERE SHE HAD RESIDED DURING HER ILLNESS. SHE WAS FORMERLY A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA.

JOSETTE WAS BORN JULY 24, 1941 IN HUNTINGTON, WV TO HER PARENTS, BILLY JOE AND PHYLLIS (SAUNDERS) HOLTZWORTH WHO PRECEDED HER IN DEATH. SURVIVORS INCLUDE: HER HUSBAND OF 62-YEARS, DR. J. BROOKS JONES. THREE CHILDREN: JENNIFER JONES RAVICH (VADIM) OF CLIFTON, VA; JANICE JONES LANDSHOF (WILLIAM) OF PLAIN CITY, OH; AND JEFFREY JONES (RAYANNE HARRIS) OF BRECKENRIDGE, CO. FIVE GRANDCHILDREN: WESLEY AND WINSTON RAVICH OF CLIFTON, VA, ALEX LANDSHOF OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN, CHARLES LANDSHOF OF PLAIN CITY, OH, AND SOPHIA JONES OF BRECKENRIDGE, CO. ALSO SURVIVING ARE HER BROTHER, JONATHAN HOLTZWORTH (SUSAN) OF ST. PETERSBURG, FL, AND A NEPHEW, IAN HOLTZWORTH, OF PARK CITY, UT.

JOSETTE GRADUATED FROM HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON, WV IN 1959, AND FROM WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE IN BUCKHANNON, WV IN 1963. SHE ALSO RECEIVED A MASTER’S DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN.

SHE ENJOYED A LONG CAREER AS AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TEACHER AND READING SPECIALIST. JOSETTE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HER TEACHING PROFESSION, AND HER CLASSROOM STYLE WAS MARKED BY CHARACTERISTIC ENERGY, INNOVATION, AND SPECIAL CARING FOR EACH OF HER STUDENTS. SHE RETIRED FROM THE UPSHUR COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN BUCKHANNON, WV.

JOSETTE WAS ACTIVE IN HER CONNECTION TO WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE. AS A STUDENT, SHE WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE DELTA UPSILON CHAPTER OF ZETA TAU ALPHA. SHE WAS A VARSITY CHEERLEADER, A MEMBER OF THE HAUGHT LITERARY SOCIETY, AND A CONSISTENT DEAN’S LIST SCHOLAR. AS AN ALUMNA, SHE REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE COLLEGE AS A MEMBER OF THE EMERITUS CLUB AND WESLEYAN SOCIETY, AND, WITH HER HUSBAND, BROOKS, ESTABLISHED THE JONES/HOLTZWORTH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND. JOSETTE ALSO WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE WEST VIRGINIA “CHAPTER A” OF P.E.O. IN THE BUCKHANNON COMMUNITY.

IN RETIREMENT, JOSETTE AND BROOKS ENJOYED THEIR FREEDOM TO VISIT NATIONAL PARKS, MUSEUMS, AND HISTORIC SITES, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. JOSETTE ALSO LOVED TO “DABBLE” IN GENEALOGY AND CONSTRUCT KEEPSAKE FAMILY SCRAPBOOKS.

FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALIKE, JOSETTE ALWAYS WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HER LOVE OF NATURE, ENERGETIC ENTHUSIASM, ENDLESS SMILE, THOUGHTFULNESS, TRADEMARK CHEERFULNESS, AND UNIQUE ABILITY TO BRING EVERYONE INTO HER CIRCLE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MAKING EACH FEEL LOVED AND SPECIAL.

THE FAMILY EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION TO SUNCREST HOSPICE AND CORNERSTONE CAREGIVING FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL SUPPORT.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE IN JOSETTE’S MEMORY TO THE JONES/HOLTZWORTH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, 59 COLLEGE AVENUE, BUCKHANNON, WV 26201.