Richard Wayne Jones

Richard Wayne (“Dick”) Jones, a lifelong athlete, entrepreneur, and passionate sailor, died peacefully on December 12, 2025, at the age of 93. He was born to Glenn Herbert & Gladys (Howe) Jones on July 1, 1932, in Memphis, Missouri.

Dick grew up in rural northern Missouri, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Belton, Texas. A born athlete, he was the first to letter in four sports (football, basketball, track, and baseball) at Belton High School. In his early teens, Dick owned a motorcycle and later became a recognized winner of numerous motorcycle racing events.

While serving in the United States Navy at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, he fell in love with and was soon united in marriage with Jeanne (Denis) Jones on August 3, 1951. They were blessed with four sons: Richard (Rick), Ronald (Ron), Gerald (Jerry), and James (Jim).

After the Navy, Dick joined the family business, Continental Belton Manufacturing Company, and moved his family to Indiana where he was branch manager. In 1957, he transferred to Continental’s home office and settled the family in Belton, Texas, where they were members of First Christian Church of nearby Temple, Texas. In 1960, Dick joined his brother, Clyde, as an owner and Vice President of Mohawk Equipment Company in Temple. It was during this time that Dick first learned sailing on nearby Lake Belton.

Dick later took a position as sales manager of E.L. Caldwell & Sons in Corpus Christi, Texas, moving with Jeanne from central Texas to Portland, Texas. Here, his passion for sailing deepened, leading him to learn ocean navigation and make numerous Gulf cruises to Mexico and beyond.

He formed Dick Jones & Associates, Inc., a sales company representing farm equipment manufacturers, and moved the business to Cleveland, Tennessee. The company remains a family business, currently led by his son, Ron, who serves as President.

After sailing Lake Chickamauga and the Chattanooga area for several years, Dick moved his sailboat “Jeanne” to Blue Springs Marina on Watts Bar Lake where he and Jeanne enjoyed wonderful times socializing with friends and sailing the Tennessee River, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to the Florida Keys.

Dick loved grilling, boating, and sharing sailing stories with close Blue Springs friends Janet & Larry Steidle and Cyndi & Jim McKay. At age 86, Dick made his final long-distance cruise, single handing his 32’ sailboat, “M&M Packet”, from Blue Springs to the Florida Keys and back. In his final years, Dick found great solace in reliving his adventures on the water, “sailing” through fifty years of his meticulously kept logbooks.

After nearly 70 years of marriage, Jeanne passed away on June 23, 2021. Dick’s parents, sister Dorothy Aldridge (Leland), brothers Clifford (Elly) and Clyde (Libby), and son Rick preceded him. He is survived by his sons Ron (Teresa) of Cleveland, Tennessee, Jerry (Alana) of Temple, Texas, and Jim (Sarah) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and half-sisters Sally Parksof Norman Oklahoma and Jessie Jones of Seattle, Washington,and half-brother Lance Jones of Austin, Texas, and his beloved cousin, Jim Howe (Betty) of Lake Belton, Texas, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Poole Funeral Home of Cleveland, Tennessee are Appreciated for their professional Service and kind support and guidance.The Jones Family gives Thanks to all the personnel at Garden Plaza of Cleveland for their Love and Respect for the last two years. Dick’s obituary may be reviewed at https://www.pfhcleveland.com. A Celebration of Life with Family and Friends will be announced at a later date.