Howard R. Jones Jr.

Mr. Howard R. Jones Jr. Howard Russell Jones, Jr., 82, of Bartlesville, died Monday, October 29, 2012 at Heritage Villa. His body was donated to the OU Health Sciences Center. Private family memorial services will be held at a later date. Howard was born August 10, 1930, in Dewey, Oklahoma, the son of Howard R. Jones and Lucile Wilson Jones. His family moved to Bartlesville before he was the age of one. He was a member of the First Christian Church through college and sang in the church choir. Howard graduated from College High School, during which time he began his jazz drumming and arranging with the Downbeats. He attended Westminster College, Fulton, MO, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma, where he also received a pilot’s License. He married Mary Alice Beall in 1952. Jones entered Officer Candidate School with the U.S. Naval Reserve and was commissioned as a Lt. Jr. Grade on Nov. 12, 1953 during the Korean War. He was assigned to the USS Monssen DD798 as a gunnery officer. Following his discharge from active duty on November 12, 1956, he returned to Bartlesville and was employed by J & S Foundry in Dewey for a number of years. He became a member of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church during this time and was a member of the building planning committee. He founded Five Star, Inc. an agricultural equipment manufacturing company, where he served as President until his retirement. The Tiller Rod was one of his patented tools. Howard volunteered many hours to his community performing as a percussionist and was honored for his service by the Allied Arts and Humanities Council of Bartlesville in 1996. He served for 42 years as volunteer timpanist/percussionist with the Bartlesville Symphony and 30 years as percussionist for the Choral Society. He was percussionist for all Bartlesville Theater Guild musicals from 1966—1999, all Community Singers/Show Choir and Fortyissimo programs, and for many Ad Lib programs. He served as a board member of the Bartlesville Symphony, acting as concert chairman for eight years. He volunteered many hours raising money for Arts Encounters, Service League, Women and Children in Crisis and Concern. Jones designed and manufactured the Bartlesville Community Center’s acoustical shell-stage which moves on air casters, the large exterior double doors of Community Hall, as well as the gates at the rear. He also built the structure of the Community Center sign. Howard played the drum set in the Alan Eastman Trio, entertaining Bartlesville audiences from the late 80’s through 2004. The jazz trio was a regular OK Mozart Showcase Event annually from the Festival’s inception through 2004. Jones also volunteered to play timpani at numerous church services throughout the community and drum set at various church musicals. Howard was always very devoted to his pets. Animals and birds gave him much pleasure. Survivors include his longtime friend and companion, Mary Lynn Smith of Bartlesville; twin daughters Melinda and Debora Jones of Bartlesville; a son, Jeffrey Jones; granddaughters and spouses Lindsey and John Singleton of Houston and Tristan and Shane Linehan of Mountain Home, AR; former wife Mary Alice Jones of Grove; a sister, Margery Maple, aunt, Delma Wilson, and a cousin Jeanette Popkess all of Bartlesville; and several other cousins; and nephews Steve and Mike Maple. He was preceded in death by his parents, his uncle, Clarence Wilson, his brother-in-law, Wayne Maple, and his niece Melissa Dunaway. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. PDF Printable Version

Howard R. Jones Jr.

August 10, 1930 - October 29, 2012