J. David Bone passed away on January 28, 2026, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. He was born on September 23, 1941, in Jacksonville, Illinois, the eldest son of Dr. Ernst Chester Bone and Eileen Kitts Bone. David was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife Patricia, his brothers, Steve Bone and Timothy Bone; his children: Gratia Bone, Caroline Templeton (Scott), and Alexander Bone; Patricia's children: Michael Schildman, Erich Schildman, Rolf Schildman (Kimberly), and Natalie Schildman; grandchildren: Margaret Eileen Templeton, Samuel Templeton, Emma Bone, Kate Monk (Brandon), Jack Schildman (Gabby), and James Schildman, and great-grandchild, Colton Monk.

David spent his early years in Jacksonville before living in Washington, D.C., and Bermuda while his father served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. The family later returned to Jacksonville, where David attended Jacksonville High School. There, he excelled both academically and athletically, participating in varsity track, basketball, and cross country, and was a member of the school's first swim team. David was later inducted into the Jacksonville High School Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements. He was active in the National Honor Society, American Legion Boys State, and served as class president. Summers were often spent working on his grandfather's farm in McLean County.

David attended Northwestern University where he played Big Ten Conference basketball as a six-foot-six center and forward, recognized particularly for his defensive skills. During his collegiate career, Northwestern defeated the University of Illinois and Indiana University teams that included Olympic and future NBA players. David served as president of his fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was elected to DERU, Northwestern's highest honorific society.

In December 1964, David was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He completed Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia, before serving with the First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division, including deployments to California, Okinawa, attending dive school in the Philippines, and combat service in the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1966. He later returned to Quantico, teaching battlefield tactics and combat leadership to Marine Corps officers. David received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for heroic achievement, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with a Silver Star, and a Navy Unit Citation. He was honorably discharged on September 1, 1968, with the rank of Captain.

In 1968, David married Margaret Price from Elkin, North Carolina, they started their lives together in St. Petersburg, Florida, where David earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Upon graduation they returned to Jacksonville to begin his legal career by joining the firm of Bellatti Fay and Bellatti in 1971 and becoming a full partner in Bellatti Fay Bellatti and Bone in 1974. Other roles included served as Assistant State's Attorney for Morgan County and as Special Prosecutor for Adams and Brown Counties.

In 1982, David was appointed Associate Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He later served as a member of the Illinois Judicial Conference Coordinating Committee and as liaison to the Subcommittee on Judicial Ethics. In 1988, he was elected Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit and served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 1996. He was a graduate of the National Judicial College and an active member of the Morgan County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Lincoln Douglas Inn of Court. Judge Bone was proud to say none of his appealed cases were ever overturned.

While raising three children in Jacksonville, David shared his passion for outdoor adventure with his family by taking them on canoeing, camping and hiking trips to the Smokey Mountains, the Current River and Siloam Springs State Park.  Margaret and David were married for thirty years and enjoyed trips to the Petersburg Lake House, supporting their children at endless volleyball tournaments and athletic events and vacationing on the beaches and Margaret's beloved mountains of North Carolina.

In 1998, David married Patricia Schildman. She brought to their union her four children, eventual grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Together they shared a life filled with adventures sailing in North Carolina and visiting their seven children in Wisconsin, California, and Colorado. They enjoyed an enduring enthusiasm for literature, history, and science. Throughout their marriage, David and Patricia nurtured a partnership and companionship that was supported with kindness, was sincere in its happiness, and was strengthened with age.

Beyond his professional and personal life, David was deeply committed to community service. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, the Kiwanis Club, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, where he chaired the Law-and-Order Committee. He served as chairperson of numerous civic initiatives, including the Human Relations Commission, the Mayor's Housing Study Committee, the Mayor's Recreational Advisory Committee on Tennis, and The Eagle Scout Citizenship Program for the State of Illinois. He has been president of the Jacksonville Literary Union, a board member of the Morgan County Tuberculosis Clinic, a Boy Scout merit badge counselor, and a member of Congressman Paul Findley's United States Naval Academy Selection Board. David was also active in the Jacksonville Theatre Guild, serving as president, treasurer, and board member, and appeared in productions including *The Music Man* and *Death of a Salesman*.

Throughout his life David continued to be an outdoor adventurer, sailing the Outer Banks off North Carolina with Patricia on their boat, hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing in British Columbia solo, hiking the Escalante Canyon with Sierra Club and camping, canoeing and exploring with his family. He was an avid supporter of Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and all wild places. David Bone will be remembered for his leadership, service to country, dedication to justice, lifelong commitment to his community and to his love for his family.

Cremation Rites have been administered. A Celebration of Life will be held for The Honorable J David Bone in the Chapter II Ballroom (previously MacMurray College Library) on March 1, 2026, located at 420 S Clay Ave, Jacksonville, Il. Visitation starts at 2 pm, celebration of life program at 3 pm with a reception after. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to The Nature Conservancy or Sierra Club. A burial will take place at a later date. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.