Irwin Martin Jones

Irwin was born on a farm near Mullin, Texas on April 25, 1922 to Martin Luther Jones and Carrie Ola Wyckoff Jones. The family moved to Junction, Texas where he attended Junction schools and played fullback for the Junction High School Eagles football team.

After graduating from high school in 1940, Irwin joined the Texas National Guard unit located in nearby Kerrville. Wanting to buy a friend's 1936 Dodge, he thought joining the Texas Guard was a good way to earn money to pay for it. To his surprise his Guard unit was called to active duty only ten weeks after he joined; this was more than a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Irwin's military training brought him to Camp Barkeley, located outside of Abilene. While out on a weekend pass, he met Dorris Ann Rowell, whom he would eventually marry after the war ended.

Assigned to the 961st Field Artillery Battalion, he served in the 36th Division in the European Theater of Operations. After the 961st was reassigned to the U.S. 3rd Army, under the command of Gen. George S. Patton, they landed at Normandy on July 17th, 1944. That December, they participated in the 3rd Army's relief of the 101st Airborne at Bastone, France during the Battle of the Bulge. The remainder of his tour involved the invasion of Germany in 1945. Sergeant Jones survived the war and returned to Abilene after his discharge in September of 1945.

On February 10, 1946 he married Miss Rowell at the South Side Baptist Church in Abilene. He and his bride were loyal members at South Side for many years. He taught Sunday School and was a Deacon before moving his membership to First Baptist in 2003.

In 1947, Irwin joined his new father-in-law, Louis Rowell, in his business, Rowell Furniture and Hardware Co., located at 201 Chestnut Street in Abilene. They remained at that location for some 20 years until they moved to 801 Hickory because of the construction of the new courthouse. He retired in 1983 and closed the doors to Rowell Furniture forever after almost fifty years in business.

As a young man, his father taught him to enjoy and respect our natural resources and wildlife. Irwin was a skilled hunter and avid fisherman and passed his knowledge and joy of doing both down to his children and grandchildren. Many, many enjoyable hours worth of memories will be cherished by family and friends who were privileged to hunt or fish with Irwin Jones.

Irwin was a member of Abilene Masonic Lodge #559 AF & AM and received his 50 year service pin October 2,2002. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW)and Disabled American Veterans(DAV)organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin Luther and Carrie Ola Jones, in-laws Louis W. and Helen G. Rowell, his wife of 57 years, Dorris Ann Rowell Jones, a sister Ola Mae Stell and a brother, Glen D. Jones.

Survivors include his son, Larry M. Jones and wife Donnah of Houston, Texas and his daughter Kathy A. Jones of Arlington, Texas. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Victor Jones and future granddaughter-in-law Sara McCarthy, Shelly Jones Bird, husband Graham and son Grant of Katy, Texas; Nicholas Choate, Brandon Choate, wife Alexandria and son Holden all of Arlington, Texas; a brother Lee Jones of Lubbock, Texas, a sister-in-law, Peggy Jones of Albuquerque, New Mexico, one niece and four nephews. Also, his very special friend Billie Fleming and his "adopted" grand kids Amy and Callie Shelton and Spencer Conrad, all of Abilene.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 12th at 2:30 pm at the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home chapel located at 5701 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, Texas. Dr. Phil Christopher, pastor of First Baptist Church of Abilene and the Rev. Kenneth Jones, pastor of the Wingate Baptist Church of Wingate will officiate. Pallbearers will be Victor Jones, Nicholas Choate, Graham Bird, Harry Piercy, Deon Shelton, Chuck Statler and Monte Conrad. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee Jones, Mack Doty, Dub McMillon, C.E. O'Kelley, Homer Hutto, Rev. Kenneth Jones and Al Wheeler.

Following the funeral service, there will be a brief graveside service with Military Honors at Elmwood Park Cemetery.

Immediately after the graveside service, Irwin's children invite all friends and family to join them for fellowship and remembrances back at the Elliott-Hamil facility. Food and drinks will be provided. The family also encourages anyone who could not make it to the earlier services, to come to the fellowship.

If you wish, in lieu of floral remembrances, donations may be made to the United Service Organization (U S O) @ www.uso.org/donate/, 1-800-876-7469 OR the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, La. @www.nationalww2museum.org/, 504-28-1944 ext. 329.

You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliott-hamil.com.