Carl Ray Jones

Carl R. “Jeff” Jones, retired captain with American Airlines, passed away on January 20, 2026, in McKinney, TX. He was born on June 12, 1934, in Wink, Texas, to Herbert C. Jones and Ruth Hudson Jones. A fifth-generation Texan originally from Lubbock, Jeff had been a resident of the Dallas area since 1966 and of the City of Richardson for the past 60 years.

Jeff attended Texas Tech University, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Following college, he entered the U.S. Naval Flight Training Program and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1959. During his initial training, he qualified in aircraft carrier landings in two different aircraft. After receiving his gold wings, he married Lloma Poe on May 2, 1959. She was his loving wife of 66 years.

He was assigned to Patrol Squadron Seventeen, based at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington, where he flew patrols over the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, with deployments to Kodiak and Adak, Alaska. His final naval assignment was at NAAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, where he served as a flight instructor, teaching formation flying, radio instrument flying, and Naval Weapons courses.

In 1965, Jeff left the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant (O-3) to join American Airlines as a pilot. He retired from American in 1994 after 29 years of service, during which time he flew most of the aircraft in the company’s inventory. He served in numerous positions, including Captain and Pilot Instructor–Check Airman on the Boeing 727 and Boeing 707. In total, Jeff flew for 36 years, retiring when the federally mandated retirement age for airline pilots was 60.

Jeff was an avid scholar of the history of World War II and the Civil War. Following retirement, he pursued many interests, including collecting military memorabilia and woodworking. In his shop, he crafted more than 175 pieces of fine furniture from cherry, oak, birch, and maple for his home, his children’s homes, his friends, and his church.

Jeff is preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Ruth (Hudson), son Bradley C Jones, the CEO of the Electric Reliability Council, and his sister Iva Jo Bynum. He is survived by his wife, Lloma; son Gregory S. Jones, a Captain with United Airlines, daughter in law, Yvette Jones; daughter-in-law, Lynette Jones; daughter, Laura J. Sparks; eight grandsons, three granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held in Sparkman Funeral Home-Richardson, 1029 S. Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX, 75081 on Thursday, February 5th at 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Service. Committal Service with Military Honors will be held in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211, at 1:00 pm.