Dr. John Paul Jones

DR. JOHN PAUL JONES, age 94 of Little Rock, Ark., (formerly of Fayetteville, Ark.,) died December 16, 2018 surrounded by family. John was born in Warren, Ohio. He was the son of Robert Paul and Sueanna Atchison Jones of Cambridge, Ohio. He was a US Army veteran of World War II (1943-1946) and served in Europe with the 410th Infantry regiment of the 103rd (Cactus) Division. While in Ohio, he earned a BS degree in Botany from Ohio University in 1950. He then attended the University of Nebraska where he completed his studies in Plant Pathology earning both a Masters Degree in 1953 and a Ph.D. in 1956. He chose his profession because he wished to serve mankind by helping feed the world. From 1960 to 1987, Dr. Jones taught a multitude of appreciative students and conducted research on cereal diseases at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. As a result of his work, he was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology. From 1981 to 1985, he served as a Resident Technical Advisor with USAID Agricultural Improvement Projects based in Cairo, Egypt. He worked in this same capacity in Morocco from 1987 to 1990. While overseas, he and his wife Joyce loved the adventure and challenges of living in foreign countries and interacting with the people and their cultures. They also traveled extensively to dozens of other countries. John was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian faith. He served his community as a Charter Member and Past President of the Fayetteville Evening Lions Club and a Mason. The last 15 years of his life were spent in Little Rock as an active participant at his retirement community. He enjoyed a breakfast club, a "Hand and Foot" card club and various other activities. He regularly attended the symphony, theater productions, and other community events with family and friends. Beginning in 2015, John spent winters with his youngest daughter, Lynn and her wife, Cindy, in California. John was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Joyce G. Jones (Shoemaker) and his sister Esther Jones Tarleton of Columbia City, Ind. He is survived by his children, Karen Holliday (Ray) of Maumelle, Stephen (Susan) of Little Rock, and Lynn Withrow-Jones (Cindy) of Alameda, Calif. He is also is survived by his baby sister, Martha Sue Kiener (Fred) of Saline, Mich. He will be buried with his wife at the family plot in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in New Concord, Ohio. John's family deeply appreciated the medical care he received during his illness. The family asks that you remember him with donations to a scholarship program of your choice, Heifer Project, or the Arkansas Symphony. Services are entrusted to Ruebel Funeral Home, please sign the online condolence book at www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.