Russell Woodrow Jones 1913-1986

Russell Woodrow Jones, of Dixon, was born on July 23, 1913, at Bellevue, Idaho, a son of Oscar A. and Gertrude L. Moreland Jones, and departed this life at 4:38 a.m. on Thursday morning, July 10, 1986, in the Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla, where he was taken by ambulance after suffering a heart attack in his in Dixon.  Mr. Jones had attained the age of 72 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Mr. Jones was united in marriage on March 28, 1948, at St. James, to the former Miss Vera Maxine Gargus, and to this union three children were born.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife on May 8, 1985; his step-mother, Mrs. Ada Caulley Vance Jones; and two sisters, Ms. Ruth Jones and Mrs. Dorothy Zhender.

Mr. Jones entered active federal service in the Army of the United States at St. Louis and serves as a Staff Sergeant during World War II until he was honorably discharged at Fort McClellan, Alabama.  His “Honorable Discharge” is a testimonial of honest and faithful service to his country.

A professional business person, Mr. Jones had owned and operated the Dixon Locker Plant since 1958.  Although he had retained ownership of the business, Mr. Jones had semi retired in 1985.  He was a member of the High Point Church of God near Dixon, the Liesmann-Roberts Post No. 298, Dixon, and the Dixon Lions Club of which he was Past President.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Jones include: One son and daughter-in-law, James R. and Ellen Jones, Dixon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Rick Gelsheimer, Springfield, and Karen and Larry Laughlin, Tulsa, Oklahoma; four brothers, Don Jones, William Jones, and Oscar Jones, all of St. James, and Robert Jones, Orange, Texas; two sisters, Mrs. Edna Kuehn and Mrs. Beulah Hemme, both of St. James; two grandchildren: Zebediah Jones and Jaremiah Jones; a special friend, Ms. Ruth Welch; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Fond memories of Mr. Jones will long be remembered in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Jones at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday afternoon, July 12, 1986, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. James D. Bailey, Pastor, High Point Church of God, officiating.  Mary Ellen Bailey and Delores Bailey sand “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” for the funeral service and were accompanied by Mary Ellen.

Military graveside services and interment were in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.  Active pallbearers for Mr. Jones were Larry Hughes, Ralph Kloeppel, Olaf Sherrell, Ray Snelson, Hansford Thompson and Bennie Waldron, and honorary pallbearers were Jack Bedrosian, Carl Durtschi, Al Sever and Johnie Wiles.