William Jones

The funeral service for William Wayne Jones will be Thursday January 14 at the First United Methodist Church in Claude at 2:00 PM.  Burial will follow at the Claude Cemetery.  Mr. Jones died in Amarillo Tuesday, January 12, following a brief illness. Wayne Jones was born July 21, 1913, at his parents’ home 12 miles southwest of Claude.  He was the second child born to W. W. and Bertha Luttrel Jones.                                                                     Wayne graduated from Claude High School in 1931. After graduation Wayne continued to help on the farm, staying on to help his mother after his dad’s death in 1935. During World War II Wayne served as a tank mechanic assigned to the 2nd Armored Division.  He sailed to Casablanca and went on to fight across North Africa, and then was part of the invasion of Sicily.  Wayne landed on Omaha Beach in France on D-Day plus 2.  His division fought across France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany, arriving in Berlin in April 1945. Wayne married Gertrude Stephenson of Claude on September 21, 1946. They built a home on his grandparent’s homestead near Claude.  He continued farming and ranching while also working in maintenance at the Claude School and at the Pantex plant before retiring. Wayne was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Claude. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Sam and C.M., and one sister, Louise.  Wayne is survived by his widow, Gertrude, of the home and five sons:  Ken and his wife, Elizabeth Anne, of Sherman, Terry of Amarillo, Ricky and his wife, Zana, of Claude, Bobby of Claude and David of Dallas.  He also is survived by seven grandchildren:  Jasey Jones; Brandon Jones and his wife, Ashley; Ryan Jones; Chris Jones; Laura Jones Farris and her husband, Kenton; Haley Jones and Ashley Jones. Other survivors include one sister, Frances Dixon of Richardson, Texas, and five great grandchildren.

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