[img]2736|right|Dale Jones||no_popup[/img]Dale Jones, born Harry Dowe Jones, who spent a California record 26 years as the Chief Administrative Officer of Culver City, passed away peacefully on Aug. 25 at his home in Maricopa, AZ. He was 82 years old.
A memorial service for Mr. Jones will be held Saturday morning at 10 in the Courtyard at City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd., with a Courtyard reception to follow.
Attire: Dale Jones-style — casual (or dress up, if you like).
Born on Sept. 7, 1931 in Litchfield, AZ, to Charles and Audrey Jones, Mr. Jones’s father died before he was born. His mother died when he was just two years old.
He and his brother Charles were sent by train to Los Angeles where they lived in several foster homes, sometimes together, other times separately.
During this period, Mr. Jones took refuge with the Cox family, where Roy and Lillian treated him as a son, and their four children as their brother. At the age of 12, Dale and Charles moved to the Masonic Home for Children in Covina, where they lived with more than 300 other children.
Mr. Jones graduated from high school in 1949. Immediately, he and his best friend, Jimmy Cox, joined the Marine Corps. They headed out to fight in the Korean War. In 1952, Staff Sgt. Jones was honorably discharged. He would later recount some of the stories of his childhood and service to his country to his children, saying that these were the years year that helped form his character.
Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Mr. Jones started his college career at Mt. San Antonio College, (Mt. SAC), where, as a javelin thrower, he won a track and field scholarship to USC.
His Trojan track and field teams were named the nation’s best. Graduating USC in 1958 with a bachelor’s in Public Administration, he later earned his master’s.
Following college, Mr. Jones worked for the FBI, followed by Standard Oil, and then the USC Career Center.
At the Career Center he came across an opening for a Purchasing Officer and Budget Analyst at the City of Culver City. He took the nationally advertised test, passed with the highest score, and began working for the city in 1962. He advanced to Chief Administrative Officer/City Manager four years later.
In addition to his 26 years as CAO, he served the City of Culver City for 30 years, retiring in 1992.
In 1961 Mr. Jones married Virginia Bautista, and they had three children, Colleen Marie, Ronald Dale, and Robert Allen.
The Joneses were married for 13 years and remained friends thereafter.
Mr. Jones always was active in his city. He cared for it very much, belonging to the Culver City Lions Club, Culver City Jaycees and the Culver-Palms Family YMCA. He also was active in the Sister City Committee, making friends all over the world, especially in Japan. Additionally, he raised thousands of dollars for two orphanages in Mexico, one in Uruapan, Michoacan, and one in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
Mr. Jones married Eleanor Scott on Aug. 20, 1983, and they celebrated their 31st anniversary just five days before his passing.
The Joneses enjoyed their marriage, living in Culver City, then in the mountains of Mariposa, CA, and finally in Maricopa AZ, just outside of Phoenix.
During his life in Maricopa, Mr. Jones again became an active part of his community, serving on the Planning Commission, then developing and heading the Park Rangers.
In addition to his three children, Mr. Jones leaves daughters-in-law Sherry Darlene Jones and Christina Anne Jones and grandchildren Taylor, Emily, Eden, Easton, Sarah, Zachariah, Jesse, Rinnah, Abigail, Lily and Barron, as well as three stepchildren, Tamara Zboril, Tina Beighey and Michael Scott, and grandchildren Crystal, Robert, Brittney, Luc, and Matthew. His five great- grandchildren include Bailey, Isabella, Haylee, Bentley, and Scarlett.
The wonderful qualities for which Mr. Jones will be remembered – being kind and generous to all, not desiring to be known, but taking a genuine interest in his neighbor; a caring husband and father, and so much more. Those are attributes that he has instilled in family and friends alike, a legacy that will continue to be passed on to future generations.
Ms. Smith, former mayor and City Councilperson, may be contacted at jozelles@ca.rr.com
