Dr. John Edgar Jones

Dr. John Edgar Jones, 79, of Amarillo died Monday, July 5, 2010. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday,July 11th, at Schooler Funeral Home with Monsignor Joseph Tash officiating. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church with Principal Celebrant Patrick J. Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo, Celebrant Bishop-Emeritus John W. Yanta, con-celebrants, Msgr. Joseph Tash, Msgr. Cal Stalter, Father William Zapalac, Father Toney Neusch,  and other priests of the diocese.  Private family burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S Georgia St. John Edgar Jones was born October 21, 1930 in Dallas, Texas; the third child and second son to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Bell Jones, Jr. of Dallas and Wellington, TX. Dr. Jones grew up in Wellington and attended public school through junior high. He attended high school at Price Memorial College in Amarillo graduating in 1948. He received a Bachelor of Science from the College of Santa Fe, NM before graduating from Baylor University College of Medicine in 1957 where he was a member of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. Following graduation, Dr. Jones completed an internship and a two year pediatric residency at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston. During his residency, he was a commissioned Lieutenant SH (MC) US Naval Reserves followed by two years active duty at US Naval Hospital, Memphis, TN. Following active duty, he completed a two year fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Jones then came to Amarillo in 1964 in association with the late Dr. John M. Pickett. In Amarillo, Dr. Jones was active in medical and civic affairs. He presided over the medical and dental staffs at St. Anthony’s Hospital and North West Texas Hospital. He also served as Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics for four two-year terms at St. Anthony’s Hospital and three two-year terms at NWTH. He also served as President of the Baylor Pediatric Alumni Association 1995-97. Dr. Jones was appointed to the Amarillo College Board of Regents then elected to an additional six year term of which he served as chairman from 1973-80. He was a member of the Coffee Memorial Blood Bank Board and served as chairman in 1971. He served on the Potter-Randall County Board of Health as well as the Texas Medical Association Council on Legislation. He held professional memberships in Potter-Randall County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Pediatric Society, the American Medical Association, and the Pan-American Medical Association. He was inducted to the Price-Alamo Alumni Wall of Fame in 1998. He was a charter member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, a Eucharistic minister, and a Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. Dr. Jones was an avid game and fowl hunter and was also a Life Member of both the National Rifle Association and Texas State Rifle Association. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Jones, Jr., a sister Rosemary Jones Langford, and a brother Charles B. Jones III. The most important event in Dr. Jones’s life was his marriage to Marie E. Zapalac of Houston, August 10, 1953. Dr. Jones is survived by three daughters: Debra Jones Ringold and husband Paul of Corvallis OR, Kathleen Jones Ellingson and husband Thomas of Minneapolis, MN, and Lisa Jones Mints of Amarillo; two sons: John E. Jones, Jr. and wife Patricia of Houston, and William C. Jones and wife Deloris of Amarillo; a sister Jeannie Jones Gilles of Arlington and brother Frank H. Jones and wife Sharon of Wellington; eleven grandchildren: Jacob B. and Sarah L. Ringold, Daniel T., Luke J. and Riley J. Ellingson, Andrea M. and C. Claire Mints, Shara M. Britten and husband Jay, Shanna M. Morrison and husband Mark, Elizabeth A. Love and husband Scott, and April R. Wiseman; three great-grandchildren: A. J., W. Bain and Arrie M. Britten. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a memorial to the Arthritis Foundation, 4300 MacArthur Blvd. Dallas, TX  75209, 800-442-6653 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 2201 Civic Circle Amarillo, TX  79109, 806-356-6042.

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