WINCHESTER, INDIANA March 21, 2018 – Friends and family of the late Dianne Jones have established a unique fund at the Community Foundation of Randolph County that will help pay for music lessons for Winchester Community High School Band and Choir students. Scholarships will be offered to members of the WCHS Band and/or Choir in grades 9-12 for 50% of the cost of a private music lesson up to $10 per lesson for a maximum of 20 lessons per school year, and will be renewable each of a student’s four years of high school. Financial need will be given priority. Grades will be considered but will not be an exclusive factor. The following criteria will also be considered: dedication to the WCHS band and/or choir classes, attitude, initiative, work ethic, citizenship and probable success in enhancing his or her musical skills for his or her own good as well as the good of the Winchester Community High School Band and Choir programs.
At the family’s request, memorial charitable contributions are preferred and may be made to the Max and Dianne Jones Memorial Music Lesson Scholarships Fund (for Winchester Community High School Band & Choir Students) c/o Community Foundation of Randolph County, 213 South Main St., Winchester, IN 47394, www.randolphcountyfoundation.org
Envelopes will also be available at the Celebration of Life, which will take place at the Towne Square Community Centre at 123 W. Franklin Street on Saturday, March 31, 2018 in Winchester, Indiana. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. until the start of the service at 3 p.m. All are welcome to attend and share in this public celebration to honor Dianne’s legacy. Although Dianne and Max moved away from Winchester many years ago, they still considered Winchester to be their home.
Dianne Jones was born in Winchester, Indiana on February 1, 1947, to Phyllis and Donald Dwiggins. Guided by their father, Dianne and her brothers often sang and performed together at home and local venues. The “Dwiggins kids” continued to participate in music in high school and sang in many of the school’s musicals. After high school, they continued singing, with three of them entering college as music majors.
Dianne graduated from Lee Driver High School in 1965. She continued to pursue music at Ball State University, where she graduated as a voice major with a B.S. in education in 1968 and later earned a M.A. in music in 1976.
Dianne met Max Jones when they were assigned an instrument locker to share in the music building at Ball State in the fall of 1966. The two became fast acquaintances and as time went on, Max was able to persuade her that he should be the love of her life. On July 13, 1968, Dianne and Max were married at College Avenue Methodist Church in Muncie, with Max’s father, John Paul, officiating.
Dianne began her teaching career as an elementary teacher in Parker City and Farmland, Indiana, and later taught at Eaton, Winchester and Concord Schools in Elkhart. Over the 30 plus years of teaching vocal music and assisting Max with his Indiana high school marching bands, Dianne touched an overwhelming number of students who have reached out to share their heartfelt memories. A common theme is the recognition of Dianne’s dedication to teaching, enthusiasm for life, positive energy, love of all children, and commitment to the pursuit of happiness thru music. Families, parents, colleagues and students consistently thanked Dianne for the extra effort and significant contributions she made year after year. Apparent to everyone who met Dianne was the standard of excellence she brought to everything, from spring and Christmas programs to Circle the State with Song to marching band rehearsals, and even her famous Halloween witch cackle that delighted teachers and students alike.
Dianne retired from teaching in 2007, when she and Max moved to Lafayette permanently to be closer to Purdue University for Max’s appointment as Assistant Professor of Bands. She and Max approached life as a team, whether it was music, family or community. Together, they were members of the United Methodist Church for her entire life. While Dianne spent a significant part of her life committed to music and education, she and Max always put family first. Dianne recalled her break from teaching while her son, Gavin, was young as the most wonderful time.