Paul S. Jones

Paul S. Jones, 97, long-time prominent Pittsburg real estate broker, died Friday, May 9, 2008, at Cornerstone Village.

For more than a half century, Mr. Jones conducted business at Jones Realty, a family firm established in 1905 by his father, Frank A. Jones. Mr. Jones joined his father after World War II, and his son, Brian Jones, now heads Jones Realty.

Mr. Jones actively engaged in all aspects of the real estate affairs of Pittsburg. A significant portion of his business was in residential matters, through which he helped generations of people buy, sell, and rent their homes.

Mr. Jones also handled many commercial real estate transactions throughout Pittsburg, including those involving the local real estate needs of McNally’s Manufacturing and the Kansas City Southern Railroad. In another prominent example, he brokered the sale of numerous individual properties at Third and Broadway to the National Bank of Pittsburg (now Bank of America) for its new building.

Through Developers, Inc., a land company he established with the late H. Gordon Angwin, Mr. Jones also developed Westwood Place, a residential addition to the City in
southwest Pittsburg. He and his wife, Ruth Jones, built the first house in that development where he resided for almost 45 years.

Mr. Jones served as President of the Pittsburg Board of Realtors on three different occasions and held Zone offices for the Kansas Association of Realtors. He also served the City for eight years on the Pittsburg Zoning Board.

He continued in the real estate business until he gave up his license at age 87. After that, Mr. Jones continued to put on his coat and tie and go to the office every business day until 2006.

Paul Stalons Jones was born July 27, 1910, at home on East Quincy in Pittsburg to Frank A. and Ella B. Gibson Jones.

He began kindergarten in 1915 on the first floor of Russ Hall at the Kansas State Manual Training Normal School, now Pittsburg State University. He continued his education at Pittsburg, graduating from College High School in 1928 and attending Kansas State Teachers College. Mr. Jones was a lifetime member of Sigma Tau Fraternity. For a time during and after his college years, he ran The Rendevous restaurant at East Lindburg and South Joplin streets across from the college.
He worked in the finance office of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons during World War II.

On September 18, 1947, he married Ruth A. Aaro at the Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsburg. They raised a family of three sons. She preceded him in death on June 6, 1986.

He was a life long baptized member of the United Presbyterian Church, which later became the Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, and served on the Session. Mr. Jones actively participated in the beneficent work of numerous charitable and civic organizations and served on the Boards of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA, and the Salvation Army. He also maintained longtime active membership in the Tuesday Noon Rotary Club and Crestwood Country Club.

Mr. Jones is survived by his three sons and their families: Gordon A. and Kate R. Jones of McLean, Virginia, Cameron B. and Deborah L. Jones of Leawood, Kansas, and Brian K. and Patricia B. Jones of Pittsburg, eight grandchildren, and his constant good friend, Edna Moon.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Raymond D. Jones, his sister, Ruth G. Sherman, and his twin sister, Pauline J. Gilmer.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Brenner Mortuary with Rev. Dr. Robert Docherty officiating. Private family burial will precede the services at the Highland Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Brenner Mortuary, where friends may call after 12 p.m. Monday. The casket will be closed. The family suggests memorials to Salvation Army or the Presbyterian Church. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St.,Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also sign the guest book or leave online condolences at www.brennermortuary.com Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.