“Jones” was born in Ft. Worth, Texas on April 2, 1934. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1951 where he excelled academically and was captain of the state-finalist basketball team. He then went on to SMU where he graduated with a business degree, was a cheerleader who was recognized in the SMU Hall of Fame, and a founding member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. Upon graduation from SMU he joined the Air Force Reserve and became a fighter pilot, flying the F-86 Sabre. His lifetime professional career was in the field of insurance, where he began his career at Hartford Insurance Co. and subsequently launched the following companies: Ronald E. Jones Insurance Agency, Kinney-Jones Insurance Agency, Ranchers and Farmers Mutual Insurance Co., General Indemnity Insurance Co., Marketing Insurance Agency Inc., and culminating his lifetime career with the establishment of USE&O Brokers, which is the largest broker of insurance agents’ professional liability insurance in the country.
Following a lifetime of achievement and happiness, Jones was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. The family would like to thank the doctors and staff of M. D. Anderson Hospital for all they did in Jones’ victorious fight with cancer.
Jones was a man that you could not help but like. Perhaps no one ever made a better first impression than he. The friendship you made with Jones when you met him was a friendship that lasted. When you met Jones you were going to like him, he was going to like you, and neither of you would ever forget the other. Jones loved people, he loved life and he especially loved his family. That love shone brightly through his smile and his eyes.
Jones was preceded in his journey to Heaven by his father, James Alton Jones and his mother, Ruby Mae Estes. He is survived by the woman he loved with all his heart, Sara Jones, along with four daughters and their families: Angela and Greg Schroder and children Scott and Sydney; Allison Cobb; Wynne and Ryan Wendt and children Andrew, Alex, Dylan and Riley; Melanie and Kenny White and children Kenny, Caroline and Emma. Jones is also survived by his brothers Wendell and Larry, and their respective families. Ron loved all his employees and business partners.
A burial service with military honors will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77077 at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 18, 2013. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to any of the following organizations:
Cox Risk Management Scholarship Fund
Southern Methodist University
Development Office
Cox School of Business
P. O. Box 750333
Dallas, Texas 75275-0333
Go online to the website at smu.edu/giving to complete form. Donations may be made online or the form may be printed and mailed. Include your check or credit card information.
Lone Star Flight Museum
P.O. Box 3099
Galveston, Texas 77552
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Development Office
P.O. Box 4486
Houston, Texas 77210-4486
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