Phillip Jones' Obituary
Phillip Michael Jones was born at home on a farm in Mower County, Minnesota on February 15, 1941 to Robert and Fern (Thompson) Jones. He was the second son born to the family. The first-born, Dennis, did not survive infancy. Phil passed away February 2, 2019 at the age of 77 due to complications following surgery, with his sister Dee and wife Karen at his side.He graduated from Spring Valley Minnesota High School where he was active in football and wrestling. He joined the Air Force after high school and was an honors student at the schools he was assigned to. He and his high school sweetheart Karen Bock were united in marriage at Bloomfield Lutheran Church on March 4, 1962.After 4 years in the Air Force, Phil attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating with honors and an aircraft maintenance certificate, his vocation took him to Rochester, Minnesota. They missed Tulsa, and moved back, where Phil took a job teaching aircraft mechanics at Spartan. He gradually moved into middle management, becoming Director of Student Records. After a number of years at Spartan, he eventually took a job with American Airlines in Tulsa, rising to crew chief on the interior maintenance line on wide-body jets. He retired from American Airlines at age 55.During those work years, he was very active in the sport of motorcycling, racing bikes in amateur events, and riding in enduro and hill-climbing events. Karen was a member of the Tulsa Motor Maids, a women’s riding club, which gave them many opportunities to travel the USA on their bikes. Phil was a charter member of the NE Oklahoma BMW motorcycle club, where he served as President, Secretary, and Rally Chairman. He also organized a statewide lobbying organization, The Oklahoma Motorcycle Riders’ Association, which was successful in establishing a motorcycle play park adjacent to Lake Keystone. They traveled extensively on their bikes attending BMW rallies. They were honored to be named National Ambassadors for the national BMW organization. The highlight of their travels was a 3-month long trip to visit the headwaters of all the great rivers of the West. They made every stop except for the Columbia, which rises in Canada. Phil had built a trailer for that trip that he pulled behind his bike, and they camped all but a couple days out of the 3 months.Phil was a man of great wisdom and integrity, with a puckish sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The family would especially like to thank all the caring people at St. John Medical Center for their support during this trying time.Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Fern Jones and brother Dennis Jones.He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Karen; brother David and wife Peggy Jones of St. Charles, Minnesota; sister Dee Freitag of Chouteau, Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews.Visitation will take place at Floral Haven Funeral Home on Thursday, February 7 from 4 pm – 7 pm.Services will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday, February 8 at the Floral Haven Chapel.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Phil’s name to:Flatrock Fire Protection Association, Inc.P.O. Box 675Chouteau, Oklahoma 74337
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