John Edward Ames

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John Edward Ames of Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021 comfortably at his home at the age of 86.

He was born on December 29, 1934 in Watertown, Massachusetts.  John was one of four children born to Helen Josephine (Wardock) and William Ira Ames. 

John’s childhood and adolescence centered around Watertown where he was a 1952 graduate of Watertown High School.  He earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in 1956 and his M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1962.  Before he completed his Master’s Degree, John proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant from 1957 until his honorable discharge in 1960.

On October 11, 1963 he married, Margo Ellen Lane in Indianapolis, Indiana.  They raised three children, shared the joy of becoming grandparents and great-grandparents, creating many memories along their journey of 57 years of marriage together before he passed away. 

John provided for his growing family working at IBM in Indianapolis until 1967, moving to Jackson, Michigan with Hayes-Albion Corporation until 1982.  He moved to Kosciusko County, Indiana to work for Dalton Foundries in Warsaw and retired as their Information Systems Director in 2002. 

He was a member at First Christian Church in Warsaw where he loved worshiping with his church family and served as the former treasurer and deacon.  John was always active in the community and was a former member of the Warsaw Morning Optimists Club.  While living in Michigan, he had been active in the Jackson, Michigan Area Hockey Association.  Everyone that knew John KNEW that he was a lifelong avid fan of the Boston Red Sox!  He will forever be remembered for his amazing dry sense of humor and his smile.  John was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather always setting an excellent example.  He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. 

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife:  Margo Ellen Ames (Winona Lake, Indiana); son:  Matt (Beth) Ames (Jackson, Michigan); two daughters:  Jennifer (Sam) Whitaker (Claypool, Indiana); and Amy (Jerry) Feldman (Winona Lake, Indiana).  Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Sarah Ames, Travis & Jordan O’Neill, Shelby Whitaker, Jarrod, Johnny, JB and Christi Feldman; and two great-great-grandchildren:  Weston and Riley.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and two brothers.           

John’s life will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Matthew Rogers.  There will be visitation prior to the service from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  John will be laid to rest at a later date at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Memorial donations may be directed to First Christian Church, 115 Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw, Indiana  46580; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, Indiana  46581-1196.

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