Dr. Kenneth Gordon Jones died peacefully Nov. 2, 2002, at his home in Coupeville where he has resided for the past 14 years, having moved to Whidbey Island from British Columbia in1988.
Dr. Jones was born Oct. 23, 1909, in Ridgewood, N.J., the only son of Percy DeWitt and Viola (Eyre) Jones. He was predeceased by sisters Lois Jones Stevenson and Ruth Jones Depue.
Kenneth was a graduate of Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, with an AB in history and government. Upon graduation, he began a teaching career which lasted 35 years interrupted only be service as a communications officer, U.S. Navy during World War II. Returning to the world of academia he attended Teacher College, Columbia University from which he received a master’s of arts in education, followed by a Doctorate of Education (EdD) in curriculum and teaching.
Dr. Jones served as an instructor and then as director of the Evening Division of Adelphi College, Garden Grove, New York for six years. Preferring the classroom to an administrator’s office, Dr. Jones took a position at the New York State University College at Oswego, where he taught in the Secondary Education Department and shortly became chairman. During his tenure at Oswego, Dr. Jones represented his unit of the university system on the Statewide Faculty Senate and was elected to the position of secretary.
From 1959 to 1961, Dr. Jones was a consultant to the Indonesian Ministry of Education at the University of North Sumatra, a position funded by the Ford Foundation. He retired from the university system in 1971 and was awarded an emeritus degree in education.
Dr. Jones is survived by his wife Doris at the family home in Coupeville; by his stepfamily; son Stuart Craig and wife Frances of Nanaimo, B.C.; grandchildren Michael C. Austin of London, England, Melissa Austin of Victoria, B.C. and Keren Miller, Gibsons, B.C.; nephews, Don and Douglas Depue of California and Robert and Richard Stevenson, of South Carolina; and niece Barbara Stevenson of Stepanyants, Iowa. One stepdaughter, Judith Austin, predeceased him.
The family suggests that anyone wishing to do so can make memorial donations to Friends of Home Health, PO Box 400, Coupeville, WA 98239 or Coupeville United Methodist Church, PO Box 566, Coupeville, WA 98239.
Cremation was held with private family inurnment and service of remembrance to follow at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. This obituary may be seen on-line at http://burley.plan4ever.com
