Preston W. Jones Sr.

Preston W. Jones, Sr., 100, longtime prominent Muskogee attorney, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at his Muskogee home. Mr. Jones was born January 5, 1908, the son of Edward Ross Jones and Etta Dewar Jones, who settled in Muskogee prior to state-hood in 1903.He was the grandson of William Peter Dewar, pioneer Muskogee railroad man who served as Vice-President of the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad, later the K.O. and G. Railroad. The town of Dewar was named after him.Mr. Jones was reared in Muskogee where he attended school and graduated with honors from Muskogee Central High School in 1926. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where because of his high scholastic standing, became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi social Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1932, was admitted to the Bar and joined his father as a partner in his law practice. This partnership continued until his father’s death in February of 1951.During the latter part of the 1930’s, he served as Assistant County Attorney for Muskogee County, resigning the position to enter the Army in 1942. He was discharged at the end of World War II, with the rank of Captain.On April 16, 1942, Mr. Jones was married to Dorothy Douglass, the daughter of another pioneer family. Dorothy preceded him in death in May 2008. In the early 1950’s, Mr. Jones served on the Muskogee City Council. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and a long time member of the Wauhillau Outing Club.Mr. Jones is survived by two sons, Ross Jones and wife, Dee, of Bloomington, MN and Preston Jones, Jr. of Muskogee; two grandchildren, Christopher Jones and wife, Amy, of Savage, MN and Jennifer Brandstetter and husband, James, of Victorville, CA, and three great-grandchildren.Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 18, 2008 at Foster’s Ivory Chapel with Rev. Norman Alexander officiating. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.