Jack Ph.D

Jack Earl Jones, age 89, native of Elbert County, GA and resident of Baton Rouge, LA passed away on March 28, 2015, after a long fought battle with lung cancer. Jack passed away peacefully in his bed surrounded by his loving family at the Butterfly Wing of Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

Jack was born in Elbert County, GA on July 30, 1925. On December 13, 1943, at the age 18, he reported to Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA, where he began active duty, and made the Nose Gunner of a B-24 bomber with the 15th AAF, 451st Bomb Group, 727 Bomb Squadron, serving his country during WWII, until discharged on August 7, 1945. After the war, he entered the University of Georgia in the Fall of 1945, where soon after he would first cross paths with the love of his life, Henrietta Weathers, to whom he married on September 1, 1946. Following years in the education system, having earned a Masters in Plant Pathology and Plant Breeding from UGA, he would begin what would be a 33 year long career with LSU, first hired as an Assistant Professor with the Ag Department on June 1, 1950, in Cotton Breeding research, while teaching a course on Cotton Production. In 1962, he would earn his Ph.D, and mere months after that achievement, Jack was promoted to Associate Professor in 1963. Eventually, he'd find himself advanced by the University to the status of Full Professor by 1968. Jack would finally retire becoming Professor Emeritus in the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences (formerly Department of Agronomy) June 30, 1988. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Masonic Lodge No. 372, F&AM.

Endearingly dubbed "the cotton man" at times, he was always called Papa by his loving family. He will be forever loved in the hearts' of every person blessed to have met him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Henrietta Jones (Baton Rouge, LA); daughter, Lynda Burdette (St. Petersburg, FL); 2 grandsons, Christopher Alan Burdette Jr (Baton Rouge, La) and Earl Taylor Burdette (St. Petersburg, FL); 2 brothers; and 2 sisters.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, and 2 sisters.

Family request visitation hours be observed on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM located at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Hwy. A funeral service will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 PM.

Internment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

In lieu of flowers, family request donations be given to the Jack and Henrietta Jones Professorship in Agronomy, LSU Ag Center, PO Box 25203, Baton Rouge, LA 70894.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook, leave a personal note to the family or order flowers at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816