Obituary of Robert Jones

. Robert K. “Keith” Jones was born in Reserve, Kansas, Sept 25, 1922, and died Nov 4, 2006, in Olympia, Washington He was the oldest of three children born to Paul and Leona Jones. When he was a small child, the family moved to a farm near Washington, Nebraska, about 25 miles Northwest of Omaha, where he spent his childhood, attending the rural Mattes school with 10 grades attending together in two rooms. From there he attended South High School in Omaha, graduating in 1940. When WWII broke out, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as a navigator. He was shot down over Austria and was a POW for 10 months at Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany.After the war ended, he returned to the University of Nebraska, and began seriously dating a girl from the same rural farming community, who was also attending the University of Nebraska, Margaret “Peggy” Renard. Keith and Peggy had had only a couple of dates before he came home from Europe in July 1945, but like many returning GI’s, he didn’t waste time. They were engaged by Christmas and married in August 1946. In 1948 Keith graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and accepted an engineering job in Argentina. They stayed only a few months, but for two farm kids from Nebraska, it opened up a whole new world and they talked of it all their lives. Returning to Nebraska they lived in Omaha until the Korean War when Keith was recalled to active duty, so from 1950 to 1968 they were a part of the U.S. Air Force. Travel in the military took Keith on flights to many parts of the world and on assignments throughout the United States. Major events during this time included the birth of Jeanne in Spokane, WA in 1955 and Keith in Tampa, Fl, in 1959. When he discontinued active flight status, he continued with his civil engineering career, earning a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1963. He served one year in Thailand building bases during the Vietnam War. This made three wars he had served in: WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and a total military service of 26 years, so he decided it was time to try civilian life. After retirement from the USAF, he worked for Napa County, CA, as a flood control engineer. He enjoyed checking out drainages throughout the county and talking with residents about their flooding problems. He often would load the family into the car on a Sunday for a ride to explore a pretty part of the county or interesting site that he had discovered in his work. When he first came to work for Napa County in 1969 there were about a dozen wineries, and many fruit and nut orchards. He and Peggy traveled to many places, but always enjoyed coming back home to Napa, where they lived for almost 40 years. Peggy passed away in April, 2003, and Keith continued on, but a major focus in his life was gone. In November, 2005, his children persuaded him to move to Washington State to be closer to them, his grandchildren and his sister Paula, of Mill Creek, WA. He was active in the Napa Engineers Society and the Retired Officers Association. After retirement from Napa County, he was active in the Sons In Retirement, holding several offices. A lifelong golfer, he also enjoyed bowling, bocce ball, and numerous card games, including a regular poker game for many years. Up until about eight years before his death, he was a cigar smoker, and even those of us who can’t abide smoking concede that the ever present cigar was definitely a part of Keith’s persona. He is survived by his daughter Jeanne, her husband Andrew and grandchildren Aaron and Laura, and son Keith, his wife Nancy and grandchildren Ben and Rachel. He is also survived by both younger sisters, Paula Wehrman, her husband Bud, of Mill Creek, WA, and Mary Jean Nelson of Ft. Collins, CO., numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. Keith will be buried with full military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent WA Friday, November 17, 2006 at 2:45 PM. Memorials in his name can be made to: The University of Nebraska. Please make checks payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation and send it to their home office: University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall Ste 300, Lincoln, NE 68508-2886. Please include the fund name and/or number to which you are giving or specific information about the purpose of your gift. Or the Alzheimer’s Association: You can make a donation by phone or mail. To make a donation by phone, please call 1-800-272-3900. To make a donation by mail, send a check to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633. Or to the USO: To donate by phone, please call 1800 876 7469. Or mail your tax-deductible donations to: USO World Headquarters Department WS PO Box 96860 Washington, DC 20090-6860 Make checks payable to the USO. Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts and well wishes. Jeanne and Keith Please leave your memories and condolences for the family by clicking on the "view guestbook" link below.