Richard Jones, 86, died peacefully the morning of Jan. 16, 2023, at home.
He was born Oct.10, 1936, to the late Roy and Lorene (Campbell) Jones in Linn.
A lifelong resident of central Missouri, he graduated from Linn High School in 1954 and proudly served his country in the U. S. Army from April 1956 until his honorable discharge in March of 1959. A highlight of Dick’s life was his 2018 Honor Flight trip to Washington DC!
He first worked as a bookkeeper for Coca Cola and then the U. S. Postal Service for 30 plus years. Many people knew Dick from the years spent at the front counter of the post office on High Street.
Few things brought him as much happiness as playing and following sports. Dick played baseball as a young man, and then was competitive in slow and fast-pitch softball. He also enjoyed golf, basketball, bowling, as well as hunting and fishing (he always blamed his lousy aim on his bad elbow, but everyone knew he truly could not stand to shoot a deer). Dick was also known to cut a rug with his signature moves on the dance floor.
He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan (Enos Slaughter being his all time favorite player) and he rarely missed a game on TV or the radio, or occasionally at the ballpark. Dick also followed Missouri University athletics and was thrilled to work at the Hearnes Center as an usher after retiring from the U.S. Postal Service.
He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Aerie 2693 and his connection to this organization was one of his greatest joys. Dick spent countless hours working at the Eagles, frying chicken, and hanging with his friends who he considered to be his second family.
He LOVED his grandkids above everything and everyone else! Parental schedules and rules were abandoned with glee as he took them to EVERY parade and fair, supplied limitless sugary treats, and NEVER missed a single school program or event.
Dick, dad, pappaw will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by parents, Roy and Lorene; brothers, Robert and Ralph Jones; and daughter, Patricia Jones.
Dick is survived by wife, Glenna Huffman Jones; daughters, Suzanne Luther and Ladonna Jones, both of Jefferson City; sister, Thelma Werner and husband Ken of Jefferson City; sisters-in-law, Anna Mae Jones of Milan, Ind. and Kay Jones of Jefferson City; grandchildren, Emma Hintch and husband Chris of Liberty, Graham Deutsch and Adrienne Luther and fiancé Sam Johnson, all of Columbia and James Luther of Jefferson City; and his hefty, ginger cat buddy, Joe.
Military honors were provided to the family, Friday, Jan. 20, at Trimble Funeral Homes. Memorial contributions suggested to the Special Olympics Missouri.
Arrangements entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes in Jefferson City.
