Richard W. Jones 1937-2022

Dick was born Jan. 3, 1937, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to Joe and Ann Jones. He grew up in Moberly, Mo.

He received his undergraduate degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla. After graduation, he was employed by Pratt and Whitney, and it was during this time he met his future wife — and adventure and bicycling partner — Betsy, at First Baptist Church in West Hartford, Conn.

He continued his graduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received his doctorate from Northwestern University in Chicago in materials science. It was during these early years that Dick and Betsy began their family.

Following his graduation, they moved to Youngstown, where he began his lifelong career as a professor at Youngstown State University. Several years later, they relocated to a farm in Lake Milton to give their two daughters a healthy, outdoor, active lifestyle.

No challenge was too much for Dick. He put his engineering-oriented mind to work when he decided their farmhouse was too small. He designed and built a timber-framed addition large enough to host parties for family and for Betsy’s chamber music friends, cooking them elaborate meals in his gourmet kitchen.

He was also an avid rock climber and bicyclist. He and Betsy rode their tandem bike, pulling a small trailer, on many trips over the years, pedaling and camping their way through Western Europe, Alaska, Nova Scotia, New Zealand and other locales.

Dick is survived by his wife, Betsy; his daughter Gwen Campbell and her husband, Scott; his daughter Megan James and her husband, Greg; his grandchildren, Nathan James, Jared James and Alicia Morrow; and his cousin, Resa Thornburg.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Lake Milton Presbyterian Church. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family requests donations made in his name to their local Humane Society or other organization for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Dick’s friends won’t be surprised to hear that his personal plans involved the composting of his remains, and an attempt to pass off a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s calf muscles as his own as his obituary picture. His family fondly, but regretfully, will not be complying with these wishes.

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