Jerald Ward Jones

Jerald was born on January 11, 1932, in Stidham, Oklahoma. He was the son of Elijah Thomas and Virginia "Vergie" (Bowlin) Jones. He graduated from Stidham High School. In January, 1953, Jerald was drafted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged in December, 1954, in Arkansas. He went to college on the GI bill and graduated from Northeastern State University in 1960 with a Bachelor"s Degree in Education. Jerald worked for the Department of Public Welfare as a social worker in Guthrie, Oklahoma, for several years before leaving to teach in Texas. He taught 5th grade Social Studies in the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, from 1962 to 1986. Jerald enjoyed traveling all over the world during the summer breaks. After retiring from teaching, Jerald moved back to Stidham where he enjoyed growing fruit trees and raising a garden for many years. Jerald took many trips to the Philippines Islands where he met and married Grace Senecida in Angeles City on May 19, 1988. They were married for 15 years. Jerald was a member of the Eufaula VFW Post 8798 and Church of Christ in Eufaula. Jerald is survived by his brothers: Paul Jones of Stidham; Verlon Thomas "Tom" Jones and wife Norma of Glendale, AZ; and stepbrother Willis Smith of Grove, OK; and half-sisters Janice Jones and Mary Mutzig (husband Bill) both of Georgetown, TX. Jerald also leaves behind many other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: William Otho Jones, Lorene (Jones) Pittman, Heston Jones, Billy Joe Jones; half-brother Hershel Jones and half-sisters Oleta Lawson and Nellie McCutcheon. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ Children's Home, Tipton, Oklahoma. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful staff at Eufaula Manor fo the compassionate care they provided for Jerald.