Author: RumseyYost

Watches have changed since Frank Jones was born Jan. 15, 1921. Frank Jones didn’t. He always knew how to tell a story. Until his passing on Aug. 17, 2015, the 94-year-old former watchmaker told them well.

Frank could tell you of the old Indian School, a one-room, one-size fits all school house, where the teacher found students having a rock fight one day behind homemade forts. Soon, they were in trouble.

During high school, when he learned the love of auto mechanics, Frank ran onto the be-speckled James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, on the KU campus. He seemed right ordinary, Frank said later. The brief chat cemented his love of KU. That would never change.

His childhood days of playing baseball with the Tigers in 1932 was a favorite story. He recalled them at the Tiger’s Lawrence reunion in 1982. One older disgruntled player, who disagreed with the umpire, stormed off the field, went home, and returned to centerfield where he burned his uniform.

Most childhood days would find Frank hunting rabbit and palling around with his dog Rex. A sad day in his life came when he had to put down his beloved dog after a rabies infection rendered the dog mad. That story was hard for him to tell. He always loved the dogs he had.

He held a number of jobs, as a carpenter, an electrician, and a pipe fitter, working for the powder plant east of the city and in the shipyards in California.

His father, Tom Jones, built a service station on the edge of his 40-acre farm to supplement his farming income. It was located at the present site of Auto Exchange. After the war, Frank was there filling up your tank with gas or tires with air.

One day, Frank went too far. He overfilled one woman’s tire. He ruined it. However, the woman took notice of Frank’s helpful and kind manner. On Nov. 23, 1945, Frank married that woman, Christal Henry. He told that story many times.

Frank and Christal soon had a daughter named Judy, and moved to California in 1946 to be closer to his mother, Ellen Jones, and sister Faye. During his mother’s long illness, he stayed by her side till she passed in 1952. Later, his wife gave birth to a son in 1956, named Tim.

During his 40 years in California, Frank worked at repairing watches and started a storefront jewelry business in Long Beach. Christal sold jewelry. He bought a home in Anaheim in 1961. Life remained good for many years.

Frank returned to Lawrence in 1986 after his retirement and his divorce. He spent most of his time fishing, traveling, learning the piano and harmonica, and going to the senior dances. And of course, telling stories about growing up in Lawrence was a specialty.

His stories will be remembered and appreciated by his son Tim, his granddaughters, Nicole and Natalie, with his great-granddaughters, Sophia, Mia, Ava, and his close friend Audrey England for years to come.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home located at 601 Indiana, Lawrence, Kansas. Viewing will be held at the same location from 3 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23,

Online condolences may be sent to www.rumsey-yost.com.