Linda Vernon Jones

Linda Vernon Jones passed away peacefully from complications of Alzheimer's on September 10, 2025. In her last days, she was attentively cared for by Hospice at the Wesley Grand Senior Living Community in Des Moines.

She was born on June 15, 1938, to Carlton and Lois Vernon in Corning, IA. Very early on her parents bought her a Steinway grand piano, and that gift inspired her life-long love of music. Over time she added to her musical repertoire by learning the oboe, singing in choirs, playing the church organ, and joining a bell choir. Her musical talents were the focus of her studies first at Colorado Women's College in Denver, CO, and then at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While at Michigan she delighted in being a member of the marching band. After graduating college, Linda moved to Storm Lake, IA where she was hired as a music teacher in the public schools.

While in Storm Lake, Linda met her future brother-in-law, Ed Jones, and his mother, Opal Jones, while directing Ed's high school church choir. Opal and Ed lovingly plotted for Stephan Jones, Ed's older brother, to meet the charming young music teacher in town. Their match-making worked; Linda and Stephan started dating and a couple of years later were married on June 30, 1962. The couple welcomed their daughter Carrie, and son, Stephan in the years that followed. Linda and Stephan moved the family to Des Moines, following his career in banking and finance. Fittingly, music filled the Jones household through the years, Linda played piano, Stephan the elder played the violin while young Carrie and Stephan sang along.

Over the years Linda was an organ player at Plymouth Congregational and Central Presbyterian churches in Des Moines and worked for the Des Moines Arts & Recreation Department and then at Drake University in the continuing education program. She was an active supporter of the arts in Des Moines, through her involvement in, and support of Civic Music, the Des Moines Symphony, the Des Moines Metro Opera, and Des Moines Art Center. Beyond music and the arts, Linda was a big-hearted friend to many. She had an infectious optimism and filled rooms with her hearty laugh. She was an avid listener and was able to catalogue the biographies of her many friends. Almost all her conversations included compliments for others; Linda loved to share her joy!

Later in life, Linda and Stephan traveled the world and bought a home in their own little 'paradise', Tucson, AZ. The snowbirds spent twenty winters making many new friends and taking in the culture of Tucson, and the Southwest. Their Tucson home had breathtaking views, and they delighted in developing a rating system to mark the sunsets - they called this their "sun-downer". The experiences, friendships, and sunsets provided countless happy memories for Linda.

Linda is predeceased by Stephan, her husband of 55 years, her parents, and a brother Buddy. She leaves behind many to share memories of her, children; Carrie Jones Bening (Raymond) of Des Moines and Stephan Jones (Arthur) of Los Angeles; grandchildren, Katherine Bening (NYC), Eddie Bening (Chicago), Charlotte Bening (Chicago) and Habibu Moise (Des Moines); brother Jon Vernon (Margaret) of Indianola, IA; and brother-in-law Edward Jones (Laura) of Winston-Salem, NC. She also has many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Services will be at a later date in Spring of 2026. Memorials can be made in Linda's honor to the Civic Music Association: https://civicmusic.org/.

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