ARTHUR THERON JONES, SR., 83, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away in Houston, Texas. Arthur departed his earthly life on Monday, June 25, 2012. Arthur was born February 23, 1929, the youngest son of three children of Mr. Sam Porter Jones and Mary Elizabeth Campbell Jones of Kentwood, LA. Arthur married his loving wife, Helen Lyndola Rushing of Magnolia, MS, on March 23, 1951 in Magnolia, MS, and they were married 61 years. Arthur was born in his parent's home in Kentwood, LA.
Arthur was baptized in 1941, at age 12 in the Kentwood Methodist Church. Since moving to Houston in July 1953, he has been a member of the Methodist Church in the areas where he lived. Since 1961, when they moved to the Royal Oaks subdivision of Spring Branch, they have been members of Fair Haven Methodist on Gessner Drive. At various times he has been an active member in the Choir and a leader in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Arthur served on the Board of Stewards and Trustees. His belief in GOD, his church work, his donations to building water wells and community volunteering has been an important part of his life and continues today. He has volunteered his time for the last 21 years for 4 hours per week driving with his neighborhood Citizens on Patrol (COP).
Arthur never worked at just one career. At seven years old he delivered papers for the whole town on horseback and in a two-wheeled cart drawn by a gray mare named "Tookie". Arthur also worked odd jobs; mowing yards, operating the popcorn machine at the "picture show", "soda jerk" at the Drug Store. He was also a butcher-helper. He also helped his father farm five gardens. In school, he played cornet in the band and played basketball. He learned to fly an airplane and received his licenses at the age of 16. During World War II, he served in the Louisiana State Guard, where he scored the highest rifleman score of the entire division. He attended LSU at Baton Rouge where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree June 2, 1951 in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he volunteered and served two years in the US Army during the Korean War. He was assigned to the First Guided Missile Group at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where as a Corporal, he taught Guided Missile Propulsion at White Sands, NM. After being discharged, Arthur and Helen came to Houston, Texas in July 1953, where he accepted an engineering position with Cameron Iron Works as a Design Engineer in the Well Head Group. On October 29, 1956, he received his Texas Professional Engineering License # 14629. He then, accepted the position of Chief Engineer with Tex-Tube Inc. Here he spent the rest of his career, as Chief Engineer, Manager of Materials, Superintendent of Tube Mills, Assistant General Manager, Manager of Product Development, and Vice President of Steel Operations. Tex-Tube manufactured Electric Weld Steel Line Pipe for the Oil and Gas Industry. He retired on June 1, 1991, after thirty-five and one-half years service.
Arthur has ridden a motorcycle for many years. In 1976, he and Helen celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary with a trip to Europe where they bought a new BMW motorcycle in Munich, Germany. They rode it for three weeks in the Alps, traveling through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein and France. Arthur then disassembled the bike, loaded it onto an airplane and flew it to New York. There he reassembled it, and they rode it back to Houston. After that, the longest cycle trip was a 6600 mile trip from Houston to Jasper, Canada and back in 1977. In 1978, they went back to the Alps and made another three-week motorcycle trip on a rented B.M.W. cycle. They made two trips to Great Britain where they traveled through Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Since retirement, he spent time traveling to various Libraries, Courthouses, and meeting with relatives gathering genealogy information which he complied into three books. Two Rushing Descendants books and a Jones Descendants book all totaling about 1,600 pages.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Helen Lyndola Rushing of Houston; one Daughter: Donalyn Sue Henning Pickel and her husband Richard Pickel of George West, TX; two Sons: Arthur Theron Jones, Jr. of Houston, Alan Sam Jones and his wife Virginia Leatha Crain Jones of Houston; twelve grandchildren: Jennifer Lynn Henning Thornton, Stephanie Bree Henning Walker, Tiffany Beth Henning; Elizabeth Ann Jones Cortez, Rebecca Lynn Jones, Rachel Helen Jones Tiller, Sarah Ruth Jones; Alan Sam, Jr., Andrew Steven, Mark Adam, Daniel Richard, and Abigail Susannah Jones. Four great grandchildren: Brandon and Haley Grace Walker; Lacey and Jamie Smith. and Sister: Edna Mary Jones. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother: Sam Porter Jones. To those who knew him, Arthur will be remembered for his kindness, compassion and willingness to put others before himself. He will be greatly missed.
Arrangements are being handled by the Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1101 Antoine Drive, Houston, TX 77055. Visitation is set for 5:00–7:00 PM, Thursday, June 28 at Woodlawn Funeral Home. A Celebration of His Life will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, June 29 at the Fair Haven United Methodist Church at 1330 Gessner Drive, Houston, TX 77055. The service will be led by brother-in-law Arlen Rushing and the Reverend Paul Thomasson. His Eulogy will be given by his brother-in-laws, Arlen Rushing of Marshall, TX and Sam Rushing of Atlanta, TX. Music by his brother-in-law Melvin Rushing of Hammand, LA. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers; Grandsons: Sam, Steven, Mark, and Daniel Jones; Nephew: Daryl Kennoth Bridges; Neighbor: Stan Keith. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Boy Scouts of America Troup 631 at Fair Haven United Methodist Church, 1330 Gessner Drive, Houston, TX 77055.
