Robert Jones

Robert was born February 28, 1930, in Caddo County, Oklahoma, to Lemuel and Lottie Jones. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters, and his wife of 58 years, Joyce Jones, who passed in December of 2018.

Robert was born in a four room farmhouse near Carnegie, Oklahoma, the ninth child in a family of eleven children. His childhood nickname was Pee-wee, but it was used affectionately between family members for the rest of his life. He spent his childhood working on the farm when he was not at school, and later went on to help his father run a small town grocery store. He attended high school in Alden, Oklahoma, where his natural athleticism earned Bob a position on both the baseball and basketball teams. He made many lifelong friendships in the Carnegie area, and enjoyed attending the Alden Reunions that coincided with the Jones Family Reunions, held every other Thanksgiving.

He was drafted into the Army and served in the Second Armored Division in Germany during the Marshall Plan years. After the Army, he attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he received a Bachelor's degree in Biology. He went on to work at General Hospital, where, not long after moving to Kansas City for work, he met his wife Joyce in the laboratory--they were married a few months later on December 4th, 1960.

Robert went on to work at the Kansas City office for the Centers for Disease Control, where his research and findings on Aspergillosis and Extracutaneous Sporotrichosis were published in, "Annals of Internal Medicine" and "U.S. Public Health Service" magazines in 1968 and 1969. Robert continued to employ his Biology degree while working for: the Veterans Administration Hospital, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Johnson County Health Department. He officially retired at the age of 81. He made dear friends everywhere he worked.

Robert had a beautiful singing voice, and was prone to break out in song at any given moment. One of his favorite past times was singing at the piano, while Joyce deftly sight read and played whichever tune struck their fancy. He became involved with the Trails West Barbershop Chorus the last few years of his life, which brought him great joy. Another passion of Bob's was his fanaticism for the Royals and Chiefs. Many a game day would find him either at the stadium, or boisterously coaching both teams from his favorite recliner.

Bob loved his family, and especially adored his grandchildren. He was a doting Grandpa, attending all performances and programs, and playing "Grandpa Taxi" whenever the grandkids called and requested a ride. He loved working in his yard. Whether it was mowing the lawn or snow-blowing the driveway, Robert took pride of ownership in his home, and enjoyed sharing it with his wife and those who came to visit.

Robert is survived by his daughters Malinda McCasland (Tom McCasland), Julia Cozby (Drew Cozby), Kathleen Jones (Erik Kadan), his sisters Berniece Mead and Vera Jones, brother John Jones, grandchildren Michael, Sarah, Amy, Marian, and Emily McCasland, and 20 of his nieces and nephews.

Flowers will be much appreciated; however, if you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, visit Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care: kchospice.org



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