E. Howard Jones

E. Howard Jones slipped peacefully into the loving arms of his Lord and joined his beloved wife Dorothy in the early hours of September 20th, 2013, two weeks shy of his 91st birthday. Howard was born on October 5th 1922, in San Antonio, TX, to John Rector and Margaret Stanley Jones. Howard graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1941 and following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, joined the U.S. Navy and served honorably until after WWII. Before leaving for overseas, however, Howard married the one and only love of his life, Dorothy Marie Schaefer, a union which spanned 67 years, until her passing in November of 2011. After his naval service was complete, Howard returned to San Antonio and continued his education. He received his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and began law school at St. Mary’s University. Impending fatherhood altered his law school plans, and he began a career with the civilian branch of the Air Force Security Service. He remained in this profession throughout his working life, receiving many accolades and honors along the way. Among his contributions was his service on the first Board of Directors of Security Service Federal Credit Union. His retirement reception in 1986 was attended by such dignitaries as the late Representative Henry B. Gonzales. Howard and Dorothy were blessed with three children in whose lives they actively participated. Howard was an excellent role model and loving father. He never missed a performance or game in which they were involved, and he was supportive unconditionally. Both he and Dorothy also possessed a life-long, unshakable faith in their Savior, Jesus the Christ. They were charter members of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, where Howard served as both Deacon and Ruling Elder often during their over 50 year tenure. In 2005 they transferred their membership to Covenant Presbyterian, which was their church home until their deaths. He also actively embraced involvement in the Emmaus community. Howard met many friends and served on several Walks. Howard and Dorothy made friends wherever they went. They were involved in their church groups, their Brackenridge Eagles of the 40’s group, and the Central Park Walk in the Mall group, along with others too numerous to name. Howard’s greatest accomplishment and richest source of pride was his role in seeing his dream of affordable housing for the elderly come to fruition in the form of the Westminster Square Apartments. He had the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Board from its inception until his passing. In short, Howard lived a full and meaningful life.

He was predeceased by his parents Rex and Margaret Jones, his wife Dorothy Marie Jones, his son John Everett Jones, and his two brothers James Jones and William Jones. He leaves to mourn his passing and to rejoice in his life his son Stanley Jones and wife Sammie, daughter Carol Griffith and husband Larry, and the light of his life, his granddaughter, Jamelyn Griffith. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Wanda Jones, Edith Jacobsen and her husband Jake, and Janet Mills, in addition to many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Monday, September 23, 2013 from 7-9pm at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, Texas 78218. A celebration of Howard’s life will be at 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Howard’s memory to either Covenant Presbyterian Church, 211 Roleto, San Antonio, TX 78213, (210)342-5253 or Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, 1846 Basse Road, San Antonio, TX, 78213, (210)735-4080.