Frederick Jones

1925 - 2016

Thomas Frederick "Fred" Jones
1925-2016
Thomas Frederick "Fred" Jones, Jr., 90, of Houston, retired co-founder and owner of Valcon II, Inc., died Friday, June 10, 2016, at Houston Hospice from complications of pneumonia.
Fred was born in Houston on July 8, 1925, to Thomas F. Jones, Sr., and Ila Pope Jones. Mr. Jones, Sr., an executive with the Southern Pacific Railroad and Mrs. Jones moved to Houston from Monticello, Georgia.
Fred graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1942. He attended Texas A & M University and withdrew to join the United States Marine Corps in 1943. Fred served in the Fifth Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during which he was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After the war, Fred married his high school sweetheart, Madge West, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston on June 21, 1947. He earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering at the University of Houston and worked for Brown and Root, Inc., in Houston and Marble Falls, Texas, and Hess Corporation in Houston and New Orleans. He then worked for Henke & Pillot grocery stores and the Kroger Company.
In 1973, Fred and Newman "Red" Baker co-founded Valcon II, Inc., a commercial construction company that built Kroger and Safeway grocery stores, shopping centers, and schools in Houston, south and southeast Texas, and southwest Louisiana. The partners closed the company and retired in 2001.
Fred belonged to St. Luke's United Methodist Church for more than 60 years and served several terms on its board of directors. He was an early member of the Houston Racquet Club, was an avid basketball player and fan, and was a long-time member of the Civil War Round Table.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Madge West Jones; son Thomas Frederick Jones, III, and wife Penny Smith Jones; daughter Kerby Jones Brown; son David Colensworth Jones; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to acknowledge the supportive care given to Fred at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and Houston Hospice.
A memorial service will be held on June 15th at eleven o'clock in the morning in the chapel of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, 77027.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Luke's United Methodist Church at the above listed address.