John R. Jones

John R. Jones, known to everyone as Randy, passed away Friday, May 8, 2015 at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. He was 65 years old. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at First Presbyterian Church in Galveston. Randy was born on September 9, 1949 in Amarillo, Texas to Roy Lee Jones and Betty Jean Warnix. Roy Lee served as a minister of music to congregations in Texas and Louisiana. The Jones family settled in the Houston area in the 1960s, where Randy graduated from Madison High School. Even in his teens, Randy would pester his parents to visit Galveston, where he would take photographs of old houses or tour ships that were open to the public. Randy later attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Randy worked a variety of jobs early in his life, including as a cook on a towboat. He established one of the first modern carriage companies on the Strand, Classic Carriage, and operated that business for a number of years in the 1980s and 1990s. The carriage business let Randy share his love for Galveston Island and its history with the public. Randy spent his professional career as a teacher in Galveston ISD, particularly working with special education and life skills classes at Central Middle School. Randy was an accomplished amateur artist, exhibiting his drawings and watercolors at Galveston ArtWalk and local galleries. Randy was a long-time member and volunteer with the Galveston Historical Foundation, and was particularly active in the foundation’s residential program. Randy was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Galveston, one of the city’s oldest congregations. Randy married Margaret Ann Howell Waguespack in 2001, and in all they enjoyed twenty-seven happy years together. Ann passed away in February 2014. Randy is survived by his mother Betty, his sister Sheryl Jones and her Foster-Sister Hasel Fonalledas, his brother- and sister-in-law, Ron and Gail Howell of Houston, and many cousins. Randy is also survived by scores of friends, colleagues and former students whose lives he touched. We will all miss him.  

Services

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at First Presbyterian Church in Galveston.

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