Rev. Irving Jones, a 10-year resident of Southern Plaza in Bethany, died on January the 30th at Ranchwood Nursing Center in Yukon. He was 96. Jones was a Maine native who served as pastor in churches in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Rev. Jones was of sound health until he suffered a series of falls over the last year. His daughter, Lauri, was present when he passed away, shortly after visits from other close family members, including his two sons, Lawrence and Stanley.

An avid reader, Rev. Jones collected books on a wide range of subjects including theology, American history, and the American Presidents. Irving was known to memorize poetry, passages from the Bible, and sermons. He had accumulated a large repertoire over his lifetime and in his mid-90s he continued to recite texts from memory to audiences with great passion. Rev. Jones continued to speak at and attend local churches, including Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. His kind nature and quick wit led to many friendships at the Southern Plaza Retirement Community and at the Bethany YMCA, where he swam frequently and was blessed with a caring circle of companions who stood by him like family in his last year.
Born August 30, 1919, Jones was one of six children born to Charles and Laura Jones. He graduated from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts with several of his siblings. There, he met his wife, Carol Maddox, who passed away in 2004.
Soon after their marriage, Irving and Carol began a pastoral ministry in Leicester, Vermont. Rev. Jones served as a pastor in Burlington, Vermont and in Norwood, Massachusetts. He was enrolled in graduate studies at Emerson College, Boston University, and the B.U. School of Theology.
Following these years of study, Irving served in ministries throughout New Hampshire: in Derry, Londonderry, and Suncook. Rev. Jones retired from the Methodist church, but continued to speak for seven years at the First Presbyterian Church in Manchester.
Rev. Jones’ travels led him to the Holy Land on numerous occasions, as well as to Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong. Jones journeyed to South America on a mission trip, visiting and holding services in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Panama.
In 1972, Rev. Jones traveled to Washington D.C., lobbying for funds for the construction of an 80-unit retirement home to serve the communities of Londonderry and Derry, New Hampshire. The non-profit continues in use.

Rev. Irving Jones is succeeded by his three children, Lawrence (Chicago, Illinois), Stanley (Beaverton, Oregon), and Lauri [Pastrone], (Los Gatos, California) and grandchildren, Tara, Emily, Philip, Brian, Alexander, Grace, Giovanna, and Nicolo.

Published in The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sunday, March 27, 2016, Page 21A.