Frances Jones

Mrs. Robert N. (Frances) Jones, Sr. Mrs. Robert N. Jones, Sr., 89, of Chatfield, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2012 at Ennis Regional Medical Center. Born Frances Thelma Hodge on November 3, 1922 at Chatfield, Texas, she was the daughter of Joseph M. Hodge and Frances Meredith Hodge, both of whom were descended from Navarro County pioneer families. Mrs. Jones attended public school at Chatfield and was a 1940 graduate of Corsicana High School. She entered North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas) and graduated with a BS in music and elementary education in 1945. Her college years coincided with World War II which had a profound impact on her life. The student body predominantly was female, but nearby military bases were populated with young men from throughout the country. As a way of assisting with the war effort, she often joined family and friends at the USO in welcoming “GI’s” who were passing through Denton on their way to their active duty assignments. While serving as a hostess at the USO in Denton in 1944, she met Robert N. Jones, a young private stationed at nearby Camp Howze near Gainesville. A native of a small mountain town in Pennsylvania called Schuylkill Haven, he “courted” her for several years, and they were married on August 14, 1948. Before Mr. Jones’ death in 2006, they celebrated 58 years of marriage. As a young bride who had never lived outside Texas, Mrs. Jones spent her first year of married life with her husband and his family in Schuylkill Haven. She often would fondly recall the wonderful adventures of living in this eastern Pennsylvania town of 6,000 people in the late 1940’s. Following their return to Texas in 1949, Mrs. Jones taught kindergarten and early elementary classes in Dallas, Riley, and Palestine, before the couple settled in Corsicana in 1954. She also taught second grade in Corsicana at the old Stephen F. Austin Elementary School on First Avenue, presently the CISD Administration Building. As what would now be called a “stay-at-home-Mom,” Mrs. Jones was active in PTA in the 1960’s at Robert E. Lee Elementary School working with the legendary school principal, Miss Sarah Holman, on many musical programs. She also enjoyed genealogy and was instrumental in assisting her mother and other family members in organizing the Thomas Meredith Chapter, Colonial Dames XVIIth Century. This chapter, named for her ancestor, is still active in Corsicana. As a descendant of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, Mrs. Jones led many family trips to Virginia researching these and other ancestors. She also was a longtime member of the James Blair Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. In her later years, she taught herself to design greeting cards with her home computer, and many family members and elderly friends were treated to her original designs. Reading, crossword puzzles, writing letters, family outings at Chatfield, services at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and particularly her piano were a comfort to her. As long as he lived, Mr. Jones always said he loved to hear her play. Most recently, she enjoyed introducing her tiny granddaughter, Mary Page, to the piano, and the square grand piano, once Mrs. Jones’ grandmother’s will one day belong to this grandchild. Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Joe M. Hodge, Jr. She is survived by her son, Robert N. Jones, Jr. and wife, Jennifer Payne Jones, and granddaughter, Mary Page Pannill Jones, of Austin; along with nephews, Roger M. Hodge of San Francisco, California, Joe A. Hodge of Haltom City, Gregory Hodge of Crowley, Keith Hodge of Flower Mound, and Jeff Jones of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; nieces Laura Beth Hodge of Royce City, and Jackie J. Sweitzer of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. She also is survived by step-granddaughter, Tracie Craddock of Westfield, Indiana. Pallbearers are Joe A. Hodge, Gregory Hodge, Keith Hodge, James H. Gill, Michael D. Benton, Robert Witherspoon Miles, Charles Haynes, and Jim Hodge. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 4th, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 PM. at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Corsicana. Services will be Wednesday, September 5th, at 11:00 A.M., at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home with interment to follow in the Hodge Family Lot in the Old Chatfield Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Chatfield Cemetery Association.

Frances Jones

November 3, 1922 - September 2, 2012