Town Topics

Helen C. Jones

Helen Cornwell Jones, of Meadow Lakes in Hightstown, a Princeton resident from 1961 to 1998, died September 25.

Born in St. Louis, she was educated at Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

She was an active Princeton volunteer and national and world traveler who supported Presbyterian mission schools and clinics in Appalachia, Mississippi, Alaska, the Indian Reservations of the southwestern states, Puerto Rico, Asia, and Africa.

She was a member and elder of Nassau Presbyterian Church and past president of the Women's Association of Nassau Presbyterian Church, the Sweet Briar Club of Princeton, the Lawrenceville School Infirmary Association, the Women's Club of Lawrenceville, the Philadelphia Junior League, and the board of the Philadelphia Home for the Incurables. She was a former member of the Present Day Club, the Garden Club of Princeton, the English-Speaking Union, the Alumnae Council of Sweet Briar College, and trustee of Warren Wilson College in Swananoa, N.C. She was also an honorary member of the Board of National Missions of the former United Presbyterian Church in the U.S., a co-founder of the Friends of Princeton Seminary, and a delegate to the national meeting of Presbyterian Women.

She was known for her indefatigable energy, enthusiasm, love of life, and beautiful boxwood and rose gardens.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Homer D. Jones Jr.; three sons, H. Daniel III of Alexandria, Va., Jonathan of Bronxville, N.Y., and Lawrence of Marquette, Mich.; two sisters; a brother; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Nassau Presbyterian Church on September 30, with the Rev. Dr. David Davis and the Rev. Lawrence Jones officiating.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Meadow Lakes Residents' Assistance Fund, Meadow Lakes, Hightstown 08520.

Arrangements were under the direction of The Kimble Funeral Home.

Maureen B. King

Maureen Bridget King, 48, of Princeton, died September 27 at home after a brief illness.

Born in London, she lived in Dorchester, Mass., before moving to Princeton 23 years ago.

She received her master's degree in nursing from the College of New Jersey and was a former Director of Nursing at the Merwick Unit of the Princeton Medical Center. Most recently, she was an investigator for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

She was a student of the Menlha Buddhist Center in Princeton.

Daughter of the late Thomas King, she is survived by her mother, Mary King of Dorchester; her children, Catherine Martin of Princeton and Tom Martin of New Brunswick; their father, Richard Martin; a brother, Anthony King of Hingham, Mass.; and her beloved Mark Dentini.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on September 30 at St. Paul's Church. Interment was in Princeton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 161150, Austin, Tex. 78716-1150.

Arrangements were by The Kimble Funeral Home.

Wilma L. Pannell

Wilma "Sis" Lewis Pannell, 71, of Princeton, died September 26 at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

A lifelong resident of Princeton, she was educated in the Princeton Public School System. She also studied cosmetology.

She retired from McMaster Carr after many years of service.

She was a member of the Housing Authority Residents Council and the Senior Citizens Club.

She was predeceased by her parents, William Henry and Ethel Estelle Lewis, and three brothers – Clarence, Sebastian, and Walter Lewis. She is survived by three sons, Edward, Dean, and Clyde; a daughter, Rheny Merrill; two brothers, George Edward and and Joel Lewis; a sister, Eva Carthan; and six grandchildren.

The funeral service was October 4 at First Baptist Church of Princeton; the Rev. Carlton E. Branscomb, Pastor, officiated. Interment was in Princeton Cemetery.

Arrangements were by the Hughes Funeral Home, Trenton.

Angelina Perna

Angelina "Nini" Perna, 91, of Princeton, died September 29 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Born in Pettoranello Italy, she had lived in Princeton most of her life.

She was a member of Roma Eterna and St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church.

She loved spending time with her family, in her garden, and in her kitchen, where she was known for her family meals.

Predeceased by her husband, Sebastian Perna, she is survived by two sons, Angelo and Michael, both of Princeton; and five grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on October 2 at St. Paul's Church, followed by interment in St. Paul's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton 08542.

Arrangements were by The Kimble Funeral Home.

Clyde S. Thomas

Clyde S. "Buster" Thomas, 70, a Lawrenceville resident for 30 years, died September 27 at Capitol Health System-Mercer.

Born in Princeton, he graduated from the Witherspoon School for the Colored in 1948, the school's last segregated class. He then graduated from Princeton High School in 1952. He attended Pennington Prep and then Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B.S. degree in business administration and labor relations in 1958.

He retired in 1994 after 20 years with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, where he was Director of Administrative Services. He previously worked for the New Jersey Treasury Department and the New Jersey Labor and Industry Department.

An active volunteer, he was particularly concerned with social issues facing the black community. He was a lifetime member of the N.A.A.C.P., and served on the Board of Trustees for the Princeton Nursery School. He was also a member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Aaron Lodge No. 9, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and First Baptist Church of Princeton.

A mentor and role model to many, he was proud to have worked with the young African-American boys in the Male Mentoring-Self-Esteem Program in the Princeton and Lawrence communities.

Son of the late Sylvia Ann Thomas and David T. Thomas, he is survived by his wife, Bette; a son, Mark; a daughter, Sharahn of Alexandria, Va.; and two grand- daughters.

The funeral service was October 2 at First Baptist Church of Princeton, with the Rev. Carlton Branscomb, Pastor, officiating. Interment was private.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Princeton Nursery School, 78 Leigh Avenue, Princeton 08540.

Arrangements were by the Hughes Funeral Home, Trenton.

William Toto Sr.

William Toto Sr., 85, of Princeton, died October 4 at home.

Born in Princeton, he was a lifelong resident.

A graduate of Princeton High School with the class of 1938, he served in the Army in World War II.

He worked for Princeton Dairy for two years and Kingston Trap Rock for two years before joining his family's business, Toto's Market, where he worked until 1961. He then acquired Gale Dry Cleaners with his wife, Betty, and later established Bill's Men's Shop adjacent to Gale Dry Cleaners.

A charter member of the Italian-American Sportsman Club of Princeton, he was also a member of the Princeton Elks Lodge No. 2129 B.P.O.E., a former member of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Golden Agers of St. Paul's Church.

The son of the late Flory and Lucy Toto, he was also predeceased by a brother, Flory Jr. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth Jane; a son, William Jr. of Boones Mill, Va.; a daughter, Diane Tamasi of Lawrence-ville; a brother, Albert of Princeton; a sister, Pearl Tamasi of Princeton; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be this evening, October 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue.

The funeral service and burial will be private for members of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 1010, Rockville, Md. 20852.