William Vernon Jones

of Yellville, AR

January 25, 1935 - September 14, 2019

William Vernon Jones, age 84, passed away Saturday, September 14, 2019 at his home in Yellville.

Vernon was born in Flippin, Arkansas to the late Troy and Beulah (Rose) Jones. After graduating high school in Yellville he went on to receive his BS in Engineering Physics at the University of Tulsa in 1963. He continued his studies and received a PhD in Physics from the Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1967. He received Professor Emeritus in 1988 from the Louisiana State University. Following his career at LSU he joined NASA and for more than 30 years he was Senior Scientist for the Suborbital Research where he performed all of the suborbital program scientist functions, with a focus on ballooning and cosmic ray research

He is survived by three daughters: Rebecca Melancon (Paul) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Donna Jones of Yellville, Arkansas; and Sharon Rivet (Jim) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; two brothers: Lyle Jones (Bernice) of Yakima, Washington; Carl Jones (Ann) of Yellville, Arkansas; and one sister, Guyla Hudson (Jim) of Grand Junction, Colorado. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

Other than his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Freda (Daniel) Jones, one grandson, Huston Conner Lorio; four sisters: Ruby Ply, Lucille Hammack, Mae Clark and Ginger Mason, and two brothers: Leroy and Lloyd Jones.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 21, 2019 with a visitation one hour prior to the service at Roller-Burns Funeral Home Chapel in Yellville, Arkansas.

The family request in lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the American Heart Association, 108 East Sunbridge Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72703.

Memories of Vernon and words of comfort for his family may be shared at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/yellville.


Service Information
Visitation
Roller-Burns Funeral Home
725 N. Panther Ave
Yellville,  AR 72687
9/21/2019 at 1:00 PM to service
Service
Funeral Service
Roller-Burns Funeral Home Chapel
725 N. Panther Ave
Yellville,  AR 72687
9/21/2019 at 2:00 PM
 
Memorial Contributions
St. Judes Children's Hospital
PO Box 1000, Dept. 142
Memphis, TN 38105
American Heart Association
108 East Sunbridge Dr.
Fayetteville, AR 72703


Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Burns Funeral Home
725 North Panther Ave.
Yellville, AR  72687
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com