Harold Jones

CLEBURNE ? Harold S. Jones, 88, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at a local hospital. Harold was born May 9, 1919, in Rockford, Ill., the youngest son of Willis Orah Jones of Slaughters, Ky., and Myrtle Watson Jones of Owensboro, Ky. He graduated from Kentucky Military Institute as salutatorian and captain of the cadet corps and received a commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry. Turning down an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, he graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering. He married Dorothy Tucker of Greensboro, N.C., in September 1941. After training infantry troops and deploying to North Africa, Captain Jones transferred to the newly formed Army-Air Corps and commanded a detachment in Italy that manufactured oxygen for aviators during World War II. His innovations in field equipment design brought him back to Wright-Patterson Field in Ohio, where his ideas were incorporated in new equipment designs. Major Jones sold his business for the Korean War recall. After the war he worked for the Army Quartermaster Research and Engineering Command in Natick, Mass., in the development of aerial delivery systems still in use by the Air Force. He held several patents in regard to that work. In 1962 he was hired by NASA as a staff engineer at Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, working on the Atlas, Titan, and Centaur launch vehicles in support of the Oscar, Ranger and Surveyor unmanned programs. He retired in 1974 to pursue winning businessmen to the Lord Jesus Christ. Appointed the Ohio state chairman for the Christian Businessmen?s Committee, he oversaw the founding and development of outreach committee?s all over the state ? businessmen introducing other men to Jesus Christ and mentoring them so they understood how Christ is the answer in their personal lives and businesses. In 1984, Harold and Dotty retired a second time to Hot Springs Village, Ark., and moved to Cleburne, Texas, in 2001, after the onset of Alzheimer?s disease. The last several years he resided at Cleburne Rehabilitation Health Care Center. He was a devoted husband, and after meeting Dorothy Tucker at age 16, there was never any other. KMI?s motto, ?Character Makes the Man,? described Harold?s servant-life for his God, his wife, and his family. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jones; sons, Steve and Janie Jones of Cleburne and Dan and Lillie Jones of Colorado, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Burial with military honors will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Owensboro, Ky. A memorial service for Harold will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, at First Baptist Church in Cleburne. Gifts and memorials should be directed to the Alzheimer?s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60601, to help eradicate this insidious disease. Mayfield Kiser Funeral Home 12301 South Freeway Fort Worth, TX 76028 817-568-8836