Vernon was the eldest son of Joseph Pierce Jones (b. 1887, d. 1976) and Sara Edna (Williams) Jones (b. 1886, d. 1954). He was born at 213 Main Street in Crafordsville, Iowa. He had one brother that lived to adulthood, Russell Edward Jones (b. 1918, d. 1974) and twin brothers that died in infancy in 1926. Vernon grew up in Iowa and originally thought he would follow his father's career in banking. Vernon graduated from Sac City High School in 1931. He earned his bachelor's degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa with a major in economics. After graduating from college Vernon married Barbara Carol Ellis (b. 1918, d. 2002) on May 27, 1937 in Bethany, Missouri. Together they had three children: Jonathan Paul Jones (b. 1942), Judith Marie Jones (b. 1945) and David Alan Jones (b. 1956). They were married for 65 years until Barbara's death in 2002. After college Vernon worked at his father's bank, Citizen's Savings Bank in Sac City, Iowa but eventually he followed his true passion which was aviation. In 1940 he moved out to California and attended the Boeing School of Aeronautics. He then took a job with Pan Am Airlines as an electrician on the Philippine and China Clippers. During WWII Vernon was inducted into the US Navy Reserve on October 10th, 1943 as a Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class working on flying boats; the Clippers, PBY's & PBY2Y3's. He was stationed in the San Francisco Bay Area on Treasure Island, Alameda Naval Air Station and Oakland Airport. After the war he worked at San Francisco International Airport. In 1959 Pan Am was moving his job to New York City and he declined the move and left Pan Am. He then took a job with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Mountain View as a technical writer/engineer. The Jones family moved from San Bruno to Sunnyvale in 1960. While at Lockheed Vernon helped develop the Polaris and M.I.R.V. missile control systems. Vernon retired from Lockheed Martin on March 31, 1978. After Barbara's death March 20, 2002, he moved to Meadowlark Assisted Living in Yreka, California where he spent his remaining years. This move was also to be close to his youngest son and his family.
Vernon loved fishing, hunting and he also enjoyed watching sports on TV. Vernon loved classical music and had played the French horn while he was in college. He was also an accomplished artist in pastels.
Vernon was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandparent.
Vernon loved fishing, hunting and he also enjoyed watching sports on TV. Vernon loved classical music and had played the French horn while he was in college. He was also an accomplished artist in pastels.
Vernon was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandparent.
Vernon was the eldest son of Joseph Pierce Jones (b. 1887, d. 1976) and Sara Edna (Williams) Jones (b. 1886, d. 1954). He was born at 213 Main Street in Crafordsville, Iowa. He had one brother that lived to adulthood, Russell Edward Jones (b. 1918, d. 1974) and twin brothers that died in infancy in 1926. Vernon grew up in Iowa and originally thought he would follow his father's career in banking. Vernon graduated from Sac City High School in 1931. He earned his bachelor's degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa with a major in economics. After graduating from college Vernon married Barbara Carol Ellis (b. 1918, d. 2002) on May 27, 1937 in Bethany, Missouri. Together they had three children: Jonathan Paul Jones (b. 1942), Judith Marie Jones (b. 1945) and David Alan Jones (b. 1956). They were married for 65 years until Barbara's death in 2002. After college Vernon worked at his father's bank, Citizen's Savings Bank in Sac City, Iowa but eventually he followed his true passion which was aviation. In 1940 he moved out to California and attended the Boeing School of Aeronautics. He then took a job with Pan Am Airlines as an electrician on the Philippine and China Clippers. During WWII Vernon was inducted into the US Navy Reserve on October 10th, 1943 as a Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class working on flying boats; the Clippers, PBY's & PBY2Y3's. He was stationed in the San Francisco Bay Area on Treasure Island, Alameda Naval Air Station and Oakland Airport. After the war he worked at San Francisco International Airport. In 1959 Pan Am was moving his job to New York City and he declined the move and left Pan Am. He then took a job with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Mountain View as a technical writer/engineer. The Jones family moved from San Bruno to Sunnyvale in 1960. While at Lockheed Vernon helped develop the Polaris and M.I.R.V. missile control systems. Vernon retired from Lockheed Martin on March 31, 1978. After Barbara's death March 20, 2002, he moved to Meadowlark Assisted Living in Yreka, California where he spent his remaining years. This move was also to be close to his youngest son and his family.
Vernon loved fishing, hunting and he also enjoyed watching sports on TV. Vernon loved classical music and had played the French horn while he was in college. He was also an accomplished artist in pastels.
Vernon was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandparent.
Vernon loved fishing, hunting and he also enjoyed watching sports on TV. Vernon loved classical music and had played the French horn while he was in college. He was also an accomplished artist in pastels.
Vernon was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandparent.
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