Services for Miss Ruby Kathleen Jones, age 91, will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 415 N. Lee Ave., in Odessa, Texas on Wednesday, June 27th, at 10 a.m. Rev. Bill Heggemeier and Rev. Jeanie Williams will officiate. Rev. Jody Wallin will be in charge of the musical tribute. Graveside services will be held at Bellwood Memorial Park in Temple, Texas on Friday, June 29th, at 10 a.m. Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home of Odessa is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Jones was born March 7, 1916 to Reverend William Taylor Jones and Edna May Allen Jones in Walnut Springs, Texas. She graduated as Valedictorian from high school in Walnut Springs at the age of 15. Miss Jones received her bachelor’s degree in Math from Southern Methodist University in 1936, and her Master’s degree from the University of Texas. Miss Jones spent two summers doing post graduate work at Columbia University’s Math Institute.
A career educator, Miss Jones taught a total of 51 years. She began her teaching career in Groesbeck, Texas, before moving to Odessa. Miss Jones taught at Odessa High School and Ector High School before retiring as Head of the Math Department at Permian High School.
During the summers from 1956-1973, Miss Jones taught advanced high school juniors math at the SMU Jon Von Neuman Mathematics Seminar.
She was a long time member of the Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Miss Jones, a lifetime Methodist, was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Odessa. She was active in her church, serving on numerous committees and boards. She taught a myriad of Sunday School classes over the years and was a member of the Fidelis Class.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Edna Elouise Thompson and Frances May Winston, her brother, William Elton Jones, and her niece, Mary Louise Thompson Burke.
Miss Jones is survived by one niece, Nancy Kathleen Thompson of Hammond, LA, seven nephews, William (Bill) Thompson of Hammond, LA, Dr. Tommy Thompson of Dallas, William Elton Jones of Rockport, TX, Allan Lee Jones of Canyon Lake, TX, Joe E. Winston of Temple, TX, Robert T. Winston of Spring, TX, and Jon (Steve) Winston of Gatesville, TX. Miss Jones is also survived by several great nieces, nephews, and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 26th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Apportionments (Shared Ministry), 415 N. Lee Ave., Odessa, 79761, or United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in care of the First United Methodist Church, or to Odyssey Hospice, 1330 E. 8th St., Suite 410, in Odessa, 79761.
