Ralph Nelson Jones was born on the family farm, north of Chandler, Ok, on March 2, 1928. He died peacefully on September 19, 2024. He was the baby of 11 children born to the late Galen Iliff Jones and Pearl Wertman Jones. Ralph attended Banner School in a one-room rural schoolhouse until 8th grade. In high school, he drove the Chandler school bus and met his future wife Gwendolyn Dahlke on one of his routes. He graduated from Chandler High School in 1946. He and Gwen were married on June 24, 1950, after Gwen finished college and started teaching.
While employed by the U.S. Postal Service, he was called into action for the Korean conflict. His only daughter, Rene Nell Jones was born at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland while he was on a troop ship to Japan. Upon return from Japan, Ralph resumed his career with the postal service, retiring as a rural mail carrier, much to the sadness of many whose welfare he would check on during his route.
Ralph was a long-time member of the First Christian Church (Disciples) in Chandler where he was a deacon and youngest elder ordained. During this time, he raised money to restore the Rose window in the church. In addition, Ralph was a worthy patron of OES , a 32nd degree Mason. He also enjoyed all the school activities involving Rene.
In retirement, he and Gwen moved to Norman, Ok and began touring the country in their R.V.: all 50 states, as well as Europe, Israel, Egypt, and Australia. He was proud of driving the Alaskan Highway three times when a lot of the road was gravel.
Ralph is predeceased by his parents, six sisters, four brothers, and wife, Gwen.
He is survived by his beloved daughter Rene Jones Vassar and her husband, Bill, of Edmond, Ok. He is also survived by grandson Bill, and his wife, Ashlea, of Ft. Worth, Tx, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank David Christy, who was devoted to Ralph and Gwen as a son would be, and the caring staff of Jefferson Gardens.
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.