Obituary of Virginia L. Jones

Virginia Lee (Rice) Jones, 88, of Ponca City, formerly of Coffeyville, KS, passed away Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 at Alliance Health Ponca City. She was a resident of Via Christi Village. Virginia was born March 21, 1927, at Pittsburg, KS, to Bert H. and Florence (Burdette) Rice. She lived in Independence, KS, before moving to Coffeyville. She attended Coffeyville Schools, and graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1945, where she was an accomplished drummer in the Golden Tornado Drum and Bugle Corps. She graduated from Coffeyville Community Junior College in 1947. She met the love of her life, James Kenneth Jones, on a blind date. They were married on June 20, 1948, and celebrated their 65th anniversary before Ken passed away in 2013. Virginia was employed at Southwestern Bell Telephone and Sinclair Refinery before becoming a homemaker and mother. She was an accomplished seamstress and excellent cook, who enjoyed caring and providing for her family. Virginia and Ken had a special bond with her mother, and spent many of their retirement years assisting her so that she could live in her own home. She also had a special love for beagles, and was a gifted musician, playing the piano for many years. She and Ken were members of the First United Methodist Church of Coffeyville. Ken retired from the First National Bank, and in 2005 they moved to Ponca City to be near family. Even though she enjoyed being close to family in Ponca City, she had a love for Coffeyville and still considered it her home. Survivors include one brother, Bill Rice and wife Susan of Lee's Summit, MO; two sons, Randy of Blue Springs, MO, Stan Jones and wife, Denise, of Ponca City, daughter, Melinda Holder and husband, Steve, of Ponca City; eight grandchildren: Heather and Brent Zimmerman of Kansas City, MO, Chris and Miranda Jones of Blue Springs, MO, Aaron and Katie Jones of El Reno, OK, Leslie Jones and Zach Monirzad of Charleston, SC, Chad Holder of Ponca City, Sarah and Clint Begole of Wichita, Jess Holder of Ponca City; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Peggy, her husband, and one grandson, Matthew. Services will be Friday, February 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1904 N. Pecan Road, Ponca City, with Rev. Doyle Sharp and Richard Castleman officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. at Greenlawn Cemetery in Grenola, Kansas. There will also be a visitation with family on Thursday, February 25, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville, KS. The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church of Coffeyville, KS; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeal Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.