MR. LAURIE PITTS JONES “L.P.”

1921-2018

Mr. Laurie Pitts Jones was born in New Canton, Buckingham County, Virginia on March 12, 1921 to Plummer Flippen and Lottie Pitts Jones and died on August 8, 2018 at the age of 97.

His father, Plummer, a Presbyterian Minister, wrote the first constitution of the National Women’s Fraternity, Zeta Tau Alpha, (ZTA) and earliest rituals with his sister, Maude Jones Horner, who was one of the original founders and Zeta’s first elected Grand President. Mr. L.P. Jones was extremely proud of his family legacy history and his daughter, Judith, a Zeta at Texas Tech University and his granddaughter, Erin, a Zeta at The University of Houston.

L.P. attended William and Mary College prior to interruption by WWII. An exemplary member of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Jones served his country in the US Navy from 1942 - 1946 aboard the USS Signet, a Minesweeper vessel, mostly in the Pacific, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and was serving as Captain of the USS Hilarity at the time of his departure from the Navy in 1946. His nickname onboard was “The Gentleman from Virginia”. He was awarded Battle Stars for the Philippines, IwoJima and Okinawa campaigns and served in Japan and Korea for a period following the end of the war.

After the war, he graduated from the University of Richmond, VA with a degree in Industrial Management and a Masters in History. He was a member of Kappa Alpha, Social Fraternity and Phi Alpha Theta, a National Honorary Scholastic History Fraternity.

L.P. was employed by

Entex (United Gas) and predecessor companies beginning in 1948. He worked in Houston, Shreveport, LA, and Florida, returning to Houston in 1968 until his retirement.

He served his community in Houston on the United Fund Budget Committee; Executive Board Member at Large of Boy Scouts of America; Secretary of Mental Health Association; Member of Energy Task Force; Chamber of Commerce; Member; Central Lions Club; Torch Club;Rotary Club;

Member of Petroleum Club of Houston; Natural Gas Men of Houston;

Director of East, South and Texas State Chambers of Commerce;

Board Member of American Industries Trust Company; and Member of American Gas Association Industry Communications Committee.

One of L.P.’s favorite retirement activities was working at the Tully Stadium Press Box with his friend, Wayne Schaper.

Mr. L.P. Jones, Sr. was loved by all who knew him as a great storyteller, historian, Dad, Grandfather, Uncle & friend. From his years in Virginia growing up at New Canton Orchards owned by his father, he was an extremely knowledgeable and productive gardener, always sharing his bountiful crop of hundreds of cucumbers, beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, okra and tangerines which he grew from seeds in his backyard garden plot in Houston.

The Joneses have been members of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church since 1968.

Predeceased in death by

his beloved wife, Naomi Nell Jones, in 2012, after 66 years of marriage & then his daughter, Judith LeGrand Jones Snyder in 2017.

Survived by his son, Laurie P. Jones, Jr. and wife, Cathey Newman Jones.; and son, Louis Dibrell Jones and wife, Belinda Bell Jones.

Grandchildren Jonathan Barrett Snyder and wife, Kim Johnson Snyder,

Louis “Lou” D. Jones, Jr., Landon Douglas Jones;

and Erin Colleen Jones Johnston and husband, Grant.

Great-Granddaughters, Avery LeGrand Snyder, Savannah Munsell Snyder, Charlotte Lee Johnston, and Tara Scarlett Johnston, his little sweethearts and greatest joys in recent years.

Also, numerous nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Eleanor Stampfli.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in his name to the charity of your choice, or:

The Brookwood Community, where his special grandson, Lou, resides. 1752 FM 1489 Brookshire, TX 77423 OR

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

11612 Memorial Drive Houston, TX 77024

Private family services will be help at MDPC Prayer Garden.

The following poem was penned by Mr. L.P. Jones, Sr. in 2014,

Age 93.

LIFE AND ETERNITY He said, “Come take a ride on my merry-go-round”

Providence bonded as we hunkered down.

I’m your companion forever, let’s join the crowd

It’s called life’s journey, only one tour allowed.

I was a pawn in Providence’s hand...

He took over in full command

The ride was a miracle, all decisions were His own

Where have the years gone, where has time flown?

As the ride ends we must exit the gate, yet,

Providence standing there, says “wait”.

“There is another carousel for those whose ride was fair

It travels the Heavens in God’s pure air.”

In the Ethereal realm eons fly by.

Full lifetimes pass in the blink of an eye

Now Providence, always in control

Blends another traveler into the fold.