Walter Royce Jones

Walter R. Jones, 95, of Houston, Texas, passed away November 15, 2018. Born in Lufkin on July 20, 1923, he was the son of Wallace and Ruby Jones. He grew up in the Near Northside of Houston, graduating from Davis High School in 1941.

Walter was raised in the Depression; he was a WWII veteran; a proud Houston Cougar; an educator, coach, and principal; and most of all, a family man, loving husband and great dad. He valued honesty, loyalty, logic, and striving to do one’s best. He desired to pass these values to his family and students.

Walter was married to Katheryn Aleen Johnson Jones for 63 years. He loved her dearly and grieved her passing last November. Walter and Aleen supported each other’s endeavors in careers, service, and church. They raised their family in Freeway Manor and Arlington Heights where they attended Faith Methodist and 1st Methodist, Pasadena. For the last 16 years, he resided at Holly Hall Retirement Community.

During WWII he served in the 398th Engineers Regiment (US Army) in Europe. He was stationed in England where they waited for the invasion of Europe. His group went in at Normandy, D Day +39.

Once on the continent, the 398th rebuilt the port of Cherbourg, France and they played football against other regiments. Walter played in the first American football game on the Continent. Football was interrupted when the 398th was called to the front and eventually to the Battle of the Bulge. He served in Europe, the Philippines and Japan.

He arrived home just in time for the spring semester at University of Houston. While at the U of H, he earned a BS, MS of Education, and a football letter. He played in the second season of Cougar football under Coach Jewel Wallace.

Walter was a public school educator-coach, classroom teacher, and school administrator. He began his career at Crescent ISD in Wharton County as teacher and coach. Returning to Houston in 1955, he coached and taught at Jackson Jr. High (1955-57) and Jeff Davis High School (1957-64). In 1959 he was selected as the Chronicle Houston 4A Coach of the Year. When Ross Sterling High School (HISD) opened in 1965, he was the assistant principal and later, principal until retirement in 1983.

He was a member of Pasadena Association of Retired Teachers serving as president 1988-1990. He also served as Texas Retired Teachers Association District IV 2nd vice president 1998-1999, 1st vice president 1999-2001, president 2001-2003. He was an AARP 55 Alive instructor (20 yrs.).

He was a long time and active member of the Gulfway-Hobby Airport Rotary Club, serving as president, sergeant-at-arms, and on the Scholarship Committee. He received the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Walter excelled at bridge and golf and enjoyed the friendships that those endeavors fostered.

In addition to Aleen, he is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Kristi Lynn Irick.

He is survived by children Kay Wren Tobola (Michael) and Ronald Patrick Jones (Debra); grandchildren Katherine Michelle Bright (TJ), Michael Lane Tobola (Stephanie), Tammy Kay Roberts (Andy), Kathryn Rose Irick (Christopher Moore), Matthew Luke Irick, Caroline Perez, Keith Thomas Jones, and Brian Patrick Jones; great-grandchildren Rowdie Kay and Blaine Bright; Katheryn Aleen, Shelby Wren, and Paisley Michelle Roberts; Eli Courville, Harper, Dalton, and Georgia Lane Tobola; Cosmo and Casper Perez. He is also survived by niece Jackie Jones and nephew Mike Jones (Mary); cousins in law David Reed Tyler and Marshall Sharp (Doris), Brian (Carolyn) Preston.

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, November 20, 2 pm, at Holly Hall Chapel, 2000 Holly Hall Road, with a reception to follow in the McMillian Room. Walter’s funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 21, at 10 am at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston. Interment will be at 1:30 at Forest Park East, Webster.

Donations may be made in his name to GHARC Charitable Foundation Memo: Scholarship Fund c/o Dr. Kathy Gibson, 8866 Gulf Freeway, Suite 160, Houston, TX 77017.