Thomas Alton Jones

PALO PINTO -- Thomas Alton Jones, 92, passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Waco. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday in White's Funeral Chapel, 101 N.E. 4th Ave., Mineral Wells. Interment: Dobbs Valley Cemetery. Visitation: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials: In lieu of usual remembrances, the Jones family suggests contributions in Tom's name to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2399 Palo Pinto Memorial Post, 1400 S.E. Veterans of Foreign Wars St., Mineral Wells, Texas 76067-8061. Thomas Alton Jones was born Jan. 18, 1919, in Brazos, the seventh of eight children to the late Thomas Matthew and Alta Brannon Jones. He served in the United States Navy and retired after 21 honorable years of service. After retirement, Tom joined the Merchant Marine and retired after 10 years of service. Upon retirement from military service, he became an independent ship captain. Tom was very active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2399 Palo Pinto Memorial Post. Tom graduated with the class of 1936 from Brazos High School. Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 20 years, Dorothy Wheeler; a son, James Jones; his parents; five sisters; and two brothers. Survivors: Daughter, Kate Poe and husband, E.J. "Poe" of Palo Pinto; son, Thomas Mitchell Jones of Seattle, Wash.; stepsons, Lynn Wheeler and wife, Judy, of Palo Pinto and Gary Wheeler and wife, Debbie, of Gordon; seven grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nephew and best friend, William Allen Waldroop and wife, Linda, of Marble Falls; nephew, Kenneth Alton Jones and wife, Ann, of Tulsa, Okla.; and a host of loving family and friends.White's Funeral Home Mineral Wells, 940-325-3311