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Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home

114 South 3rd Street

Harlan, Kentucky

Wallace Jones Obituary

JONES Wallace "Wah Wah" Clayton, 88, of Lexington, KY, passed away after a fall and a short illness on Sunday, July 27, 2014. Born and raised in Harlan, KY, on July 14, 1926, he was the son of Faye and Hugh Jones. He was preceded in death by his four siblings Dukie, Hugh, Evelyn, and Jackie. Wallace married his beloved Edna Ball in Middlesboro, KY, on August 9, 1947. They were married for 56 years before her passing in 2003. His family was the most important thing in his life. Even though Wah Wah became somewhat of a star after all of his sport success at UK, he still found time to attend most of the sporting activities of his children and grandchildren. He also loved all the family dogs and, especially, his little dog Abbie who was his constant companion after the passing of his wife. He was a member of the Lexington Country Club where he could be found often playing golf. He wanted to play golf while at UK but after playing basketball, football, baseball, and running track, he couldn't manage to find time. His accomplishments include: being a member of the original Fabulous Five, member of the 1948 and 1949 NCAA Basketball Champions, winner of a Gold Medal in basketball at the 1948 London Olympic games, earning All-American honors in both football (Bear Bryant), basketball (Adolph Rupp), All-SEC in baseball (Frank Mosley) and lettering in track and field (Dan Seaton). Wah Wah has had his #27 retired in both basketball and football and is the only player elected as a "Living Legend" in both basketball and football in the SEC. Wah Wah is a member of the inaugural Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also the President of Blue Grass Tours, a charter bus and tour company. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. He was a huge supporter of Cardinal Hill and of the Bash, the Goodwill Games, a member of the Lion's Club, and many other activities. He was the first Republican Sherriff elected in Fayette County serving from 1954 - 1958. He is survived by his children: Wallace "Wah" Jones, Jr., of Lexington, Vicki Jones of Lexington and Ira Dawson (Bruce), of Louisville; his grandchildren: Brian Mains (Crystal), of Louisville, Shawna Landers of Florida, Cara Canada (Brandon), of Louisville, Ashley Dawson of Louisville, and Corey Jones (Ashley), of Lexington; his 7 great-grandchildren: Taylor Mueller and Amelia Mains, Addilyn and Lucas Landers, Ali and Reagan Canada, Carson Jones, and Judy Jones, mother of grandson Corey. There will then be a celebration of his life on Thursday, July 31, from 3 - 8pm at the K-Men's Club, 1398 Sports Drive, Lexington, KY. Visitation will be Friday, August 1, from 10am - 12noon at Immanuel Baptist Church, 3100 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY. The funeral service will begin at noon, immediately following the visitation. Burial will then follow in the Lexington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to your favorite animal rescue facility, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, to the University of Kentucky's K-Mens Club, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, or the Lions Club in memory of Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones. The family wishes to thank Dr. Greg Hood for his extraordinary skill, concern and compassion for our father and family over the years. Additional thanks go out to the staff at Central Baptist and Lexington Country Place for their loving care given to Dad. Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home, Harlan is honored to be serving the Jones family. Condolences can be made at www.aljfh.com.

Published by Lexington Herald-Leader on Jul. 30, 2014.
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Memories and Condolences
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I met Wah Wah during his time in the hospital and was genuinely impressed with his humility and kind and gentle nature. Very blessed to say I met him.

Jennifer Chiles

August 1, 2014

Wah was a wonderful friend to all of us at the Coach House for many years...a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Our sympathies to your entire family.

Sam & Tootsie Nelson

July 31, 2014

Wah,

I was sorry to learn of your father's passing. I enjoyed getting to know him when I worked as a tour guide for Bluegrass Tours. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jim Combs

July 30, 2014

We are holding the Jones family close to our hearts. We pray God will strengthen you in this time of sorrow.

Tim and Hannah Mahler

July 30, 2014

A very sad day indeed. The kindest gentleman I have ever met. We met in 1979 and have been friends ever since. I am so fortunate we were friends.

Jan Bennett

July 30, 2014

I'm proud to say that I met Wah a few times, but "knew" him from the stories my Dad would occasionally pull out and share with us. This man was truly amazing, overloaded with talent and forever a gentle giant. I always smile when I think of the small town of Harlan, and the great people who grew up there. I hope the Jones family will be comforted by the many people that Wah's life touched. May he rest in peace.

Amy Yessin

July 30, 2014

I just wanted to send my prayers, thoughts and love to the Jones Family. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm honored to be able to say I got to meet Wah Wah through working at Blue Grass Tours. What a sweet man he was!! A gentle giant :)
Thinking about you Wah, Vicki, Corey and the rest of the Jones and BGT families.
Kathy

Kathy Velker

July 30, 2014

A very, very sad day in KY. Many, many articles have been written describing Wah Wah's stellar sports achievements (all true), but he was also a very real soft-spoken southern gentleman. Sunday we lost the greatest athlete KY ever produced and a great man.

Jimi Robinette-Jones

July 30, 2014

Our beloved Wah Wah will live in the heart of every student that knew him. We all graduated from Harlan High School and he was always in our thoughts over the years. The love and the thoughts of him will remain with each of us. God's blessings on his family. Wanda...HHS Class of '53

Wanda Vowell Sallee

July 29, 2014

I grew up with “Wah Wah”, in Harlan, KY, going to Harlan Elementary School and Harlan High School. He was a remarkable man, and as I remember him, he was compassionate person, who never let fame go to his head and was for the “underdog” . He truly is a “Great legend” and represented Harlan County in a most magnificent way, when, at the time, Harlan County was “painted” in the worst of ways. He brought pride and dignity back to our County.
I thank God that I knew him when he was in Grade School especially and somewhat in High School, and the imprint that he leaves on me as a wonderful person and the place where he came from*.

*”Where is the man who owes nothing to the land in which he Lives? Whatever that land may be, he owes to it the most precious thing possessed by man, the morality of his actions and the love of virtue.”
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1 712-1778)

Daniel Ball Pope, Sr.,

July 29, 2014

Our thoughts ahd prayers are with the family at this time.

Mary Marlin & Dan Beasley

July 28, 2014

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Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home

114 South 3rd Street P.O. Box 763, Harlan, KY 40831

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