Philip K. Jones

A lifelong Baton Rouge resident, Philip Kirkpatrick Jones peacefully passed away in his home on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Philip K. Jones was 90, born in Baton Rouge in December 1920 to Judge and Mrs. W. Carruth Jones. He was one of five children. He graduated from University High School in 1937 and went on to receive a B.A. from LSU in 1940. He attended graduate school before entering the armed forces. In 1948, Philip obtained a juris doctorate from LSU School of Law. From 1942-1946, Philip served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually left the Army as a captain. It was during this time period that Philip met and married the love of his life, Mary Jane Kincade, of Buffalo, N.Y. They were married for 48 years. Mary Jane unexpectedly passed away in 1991. Philip is survived by their three children, Marilyn Jones Hardy, of Lakewood, Colo., married to Dr. Donald M. Hardy Jr.; Philip Kirkpatrick Jones Jr., of New Orleans, married to Serena Cockayne; and Beverly Anne Jones, of Lake Charles. In addition, he is survived by family friend, Jane Allums, of Lake Charles. Following the war, Philip began private law practice in Baton Rouge in 1948. He was assistant district attorney for East Baton Rouge Parish from 1951-1952. He was assistant general counsel for the Louisiana Department of Highways from 1953-1964. He was general counsel for the Louisiana Department of Highways and its successor, the Department of Transportation and Development from 1964-1983. In this position he was instrumental in the development of the Louisiana Interstate Highway System. He spearheaded the concept of "pocket parks," the idea of taking pre-existing unused land under and around interstates and turning them into parks for the community. This concept has now been widely adopted and implemented nationwide. Philip received The Charles E. Dunbar Jr. Career Service Award in 1979, the highest award given by the Louisiana Civil Service League, for outstanding service as a civil servant of the state of Louisiana. He began and was president of the Highway Federal Credit Union, now known as Main Street Federal Credit Union. He served as treasurer and vice president on the board of Guaranty Federal Savings and Loan from 1963-1981. Philip also served on the board of the directors of Pan Aero Corp. and PAMC Management Corp. pioneering renewable energy companies. Throughout his life, Philip remained dedicated to giving back to his community. One of his greatest passions was his involvement with the Capital City Kiwanis Club locally, nationally and internationally where he served many positions including president of the Capital City and lieutenant governor. He also was involved in a range of community boards including O'Brien House, Southside Civic Association, Audubon Girl Scout Council, Baton Rouge Bar Association and Saint James Lodge. Philip was bestowed the rank and decoration honor of 32nd Degree Knight Commander of the Court of Honor from the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in recognition of outstanding service for over 50 years. Furthermore, he was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder and a deacon. He was also the author of "Out of His Roots, Beside the Still Waters" and "The Sisters Virtuous." In honor of his late mother, Philip established the Mrs. W. Carruth Jones Foundation for the blind and physically handicapped. This foundation works with the Louisiana State Library to provide services for the blind and hearing impaired such as providing "talking books," special reading programs for children in the summer, and the purchasing of large print/Braille books. Philip was predeceased by siblings Elizabeth Jones Hill, W. Carruth Jones Jr., John Roger Jones, George Hilton Jones III as well as wives Mary Jane Kincade and Alice Bryan Sellis. He is survived by his children as well as seven grandchildren including Donald Christopher Hardy, of Littleton, Colo., married to Michael Ann Jones; Jennifer Lynn Hardy and Leah Kathryn Hardy, of Los Angeles; Veronica Cockayne Jones, of Glasgow, Scotland; Nicola Kincade Jones, of Los Angeles; Clare Kirkpatrick Jones, of the Marshall Islands; and Philip Carruth Elliot Jones, of New Orleans. Prior to his death, Philip also became the proud great-grandfather to Jordan Zay Spezze and Michael Christopher Hardy, of Littleton, Colo. Philip is also survived by nephews, John Hill Jr. and wife, Cindy, and George Hill and wife, Elizabeth, all of Port Allen. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Thursday evening, Feb. 24, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Visiting will resume on Friday morning at First Presbyterian Church, North Boulevard at Sixth Street, at 9 a.m. and will continue until funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North St. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Philip's honor should be sent to the Mrs. W. Carruth Jones Foundation, 1131 N. River Road, Port Allen, LA 70767-3301 or the O'Brien House, 466 N. 12th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. The family would like to thank all of Philip's friends including Delores Stalling, neighbors, colleagues, doctors and the community at large who have loved him and brought him joy throughout his blessed life. Additionally, words cannot express Philip's and his family's immense love and gratitude to his devoted caregivers from Nursing Care Connections especially Akeshe Espedron, Rhonda Matthew, Robin Lightfoot, Rebecca Wilson and Isra Harris. Philip was known as a man of great intellect, honesty, compassion and deep love. Described as a "generous gentlemen" he will be dearly missed by all who knew him but his spirit will live on in each and every one of us.   >