RICHARD JONES

RICHARD JONES 08/27/1938 - 07/28/2025 Richard Nathan Jones, 86, of Roosevelt, Utah, peacefully passed away at his home surrounded by family on July 28, 2025. He was born to Nathan and LaVelle Freda Jorgensen Jones in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 27, 1938 on his mother's birthday. He grew up in Granite, Utah; Tabiona, Utah; Rangely, Colorado; and Bonanza, Utah. When Richard was twelve years old, he visited his friend Teddy Franklin's home, where he first saw Teddy's little sister, Wanda. She impressed him as she was cooking dinner for her family. Four years later, Richard and Wanda began dating. After their high school graduations, Richard married Wanda Lou Franklin on July 25, 1958, which marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They became the parents of six children. Richard attended Rangely High School, where he participated in wrestling, football, basketball, track, playing a cornet in band, and was the drum major in the marching band. His senior year, Richard placed 1st at state in the 880 yard race. During high school, he started his first business, a woodworking shop, where he built and sold shelves and kitchen cabinets. He attended college at the University of Colorado at Boulder and graduated with dual Bachelor of Science majors in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Management. Following his college graduation in 1961, Richard and Wanda moved to Hunter, Utah. He later earned a Master's degree in Education from Utah State University. Richard's career included working at Hercules Powder Company (designing rockets and missiles) and IMAC (designing vacuum tubes) in Salt Lake City. He moved his family to the Uintah Basin in 1969, where he helped organize and then managed Ute Fabrication (building laminated cabinets) and owned two small businesses in Roosevelt. In 1975 he began working at the Uintah Basin Technology College teaching classes in drafting, basics of electricity, applied math and physics, and petroleum technology. He developed successful teaching programs in technology education and traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada presenting these programs to other technology teachers. He later served as Director of UBTech until his retirement in 2003. In January of 2020, Richard was awarded the UBTech "Champion" Award for outstanding service and representation of technical education in the Uintah Basin. Richard's interests and hobbies included woodworking, tropical fish aquariums, remodeling and finishing his homes, yard work, traveling, collecting and repairing antique furniture, collecting rocks, watching movies (especially Westerns and Star Trek), reading, traveling, and building puzzles. He also built a family cabin near Flaming Gorge with the help of all of his children. He was a great husband, father, and teacher, especially with his children. He took his family on many vacations throughout the western states, Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, and Denmark. He and Wanda also enjoyed many cruises together. Richard is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Wanda, and their children: Cynthia (Tom) Bruton of Duchesne; Barton (Julie) Jones of Duchesne; Lorinda (Larry) Jorgensen of Kenai, Alaska; Gregory (Annalese) Jones of Kaysville; Teresa (James) Mangan of Cedar Hills; and Melissa (Greg) Ellis of Orem. He is also survived by his sisters, Sherry (Don) Monsen and Christine (Lee) Stewart, both of Vernal; brother-in-law Teddy (Phyllis) Franklin of Rangely, Colorado; and sister-in-law Barbara Franklin of Trinidad, Colorado; along with many nieces and nephews. Grandpa Jones will also be dearly missed by his thirty-two grandchildren and forty-two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nathan and LaVelle Jones, a nephew, Douglas Franklin, and two brothers-in-law, Owen Caldwell and Gordon Franklin. Richard's memorial service will be held on August 16, 2025, at noon at the Ballard Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Highway 40. Interment will follow in the Roosevelt Cemetery. There will be no prior viewing. We want to thank Canyon Hospice and Fili Vaisigano with Caring Hearts for helping us care for Richard at home during his final days.