Robert R. Jones

Robert R. Jones, 95, formerly of Washington, died January 22, 2020 at Overland Park, KS. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 28 at the Ward Funeral Home in Washington. Rev. Shannon Borgman officiated.  The hymns “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “God’s Own Child” were played. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers were Brian Harris, Nathaniel Harris, Joseph Harris, Edward Null, Robert Null, Paul Jeannot and Lars Ericksen. Burial was in Washington City Cemetery. Robert Richard (Bob) Jones, born June 10, 1924 in Washington County Kansas to Christopher and Vera (Diller) Jones.  Bob was an engineer, a farmer, an entrepreneur, a patriot, and a Renaissance man.  He was the beloved husband and devoted lifetime partner of Jean Marie Darby Jones until her death in 2008.  He was the best Daddy in the whole world to his four daughters.     Bob grew up on the family farm with his three brothers and his loving parents, Columbus and Vera Jones.  During the Depression he sometimes went shoeless, but he had a pony.  As a young man during  World War II, Bob fought valiantly to help defeat the fascists and white nationalists in Europe, earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. After the War, Bob returned home to marry his childhood sweetheart.   He and Jean moved to Manhattan KS where Bob studied civil engineering at Kansas State University.  Upon graduating in 1949, Bob, like many others of the Greatest Generation, began working to design and build the roads and bridges that transformed America into a strong and modern country. Eventually Bob and Jean returned home to Washington to farm and raise Angus cattle with Bob’s father and brother.  They also operated a fertilizer business and a Minneapolis Moline farm equipment business.  Bob had a long career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring as Postmaster of Washington.  Bob and Jean were both strong advocates for women’s rights, and they encouraged their daughters to study and learn.  Bob taught his daughters many things—to drive a tractor, to play “The Merry Farmer” on the piano, and to solve for X.   He and Jean sent their daughters to Kansas State and all graduated. Bob Jones was kind, generous, quietly charming, and very witty.  He enjoyed new experiences, and he and Jean were able to do some travelling in their retirement, including a trip to Europe with his K Company Brothers in Arms, retracing their WWII route.  Bob was always an optimist, even during the inevitable lean years of farming, often whistling “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.   He loved cows, old-time country music, and good Scotch.    Bob is survived by a brother, Philip Jones,  and his wife, Ernestine,  of Wichita; four daughters and their husbands, Pamela and Paul Jeannot of Lake St. Louis MO, Robin and Brian Harris of Leawood KS, Chris and Edward Null of Dunlap IL,  and Gwyn and Lars Ericksen of Overland Park KS; six grandchildren, Nathan Harris, Joseph Harris and his fiancée, Tara Nichols, Kate Harris Bowersox and her husband, Zack Bowersox , Robert Null and his wife,  Kendra Dalton Null,  Anne Null Angus and her husband, Ted Angus,  Leigh  Null Raffin and her husband, Ryan Raffin;  a great granddaughter, Olivia Harris, and a second great granddaughter expected in June, Eleanor  Jean Bowersox.    Bob was predeceased by his wife, Jean Darby Jones; his parents, Columbus and Vera (Diller) Jones; and two brothers, Morris Jones and William Jones. A Robert Jones Memorial fund has been established.  Remembrances may be sent to this fund in care of Ward Funeral Home in Washington Kansas.     To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert R. Jones, please visit our flower store.