Donald Wortham Jones

Donald Wortham Jones passed away on Thursday March 7, 2024, due to heart surgery complications at the age of 86. His failing heart took him away from this world, yet his loving spirit will remain an inspiration to those who knew him.

Don was a fiercely devoted husband to the love of his life, Joyce Burr, for 32 years. They had a wonderful life together. His kind, patient, and generous spirit served him well as her touchstone and caregiver in her later years until her death in 2019 from Alzheimer’s.

He was born to Bernice and Wortham Jones on April 4, 1937, in Kansas City, MO, where he lived his entire life. Blessed with two younger brothers, Don was well traveled as a child and enjoyed many family vacations exploring the great outdoors. His father died when Don was 19, making him the man of the house. He became a father figure to his young brothers and remained devoted to his mother. He took great care of her until her death at age 95. Family would be his top priority for the remainder of his life.

He served in the Army and Air Force Reserves for 7 years, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army and Tech Sergeant in the Air Force. Because of Don’s exemplary character, he was selected to work at Richards-Gebaur AFB in the NORAD Communication Center during the Cold War. His experience in the military gave him a sense of direction he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

Don spent nearly 40 years as a Telecommunications Specialist at Southwestern Bell’s Westport Main Distribution Frame (MDF). He was highly regarded and selected to implement COSMOS, a critical system for MDFs at SW Bell.

He was an avid firearm enthusiast and collector and loved hunting and horseback riding in his younger years. Don was obsessive about his vehicles, especially his beloved Saab. Don’s passion for books and movies, and his insatiable intellectual curiosity, helped to make him a world-class storyteller. His imaginative tales, dreamed up for the grandchildren, were legendary! His stories were always interesting and engaging.

More than anything else, Don was consistently kind, generous, joyful, loving and well known for his “10-minute hug”, optimistic, and accepting. He always gave others the benefit of the doubt. He was universally described as “one of the kindest people I ever knew.” He treated everyone he met with kindness, and was an exemplary role model on how to be a good and kind human being. He had impeccable manners, a lost art in today’s society. Don leaves behind a legacy of love. May he rest in eternal peace, remembered with everlasting love by those who hold him dear.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Wortham Jones, his dear wife Joyce Burr, his brother Michael Jones, stepchildren Jeff Burr and Linda Burr.

Don is survived by his brother Timothy Jones (Sharon), stepchildren Jennifer LePage (Joe), Judy Forbes (Carl), Jane Coon (Richard), Jon Burr, Julie Burr and numerous loving nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Inurnment to directly follow the Memorial Service at Mount Moriah Cemetery South.