Robert Dale Jones

JONES, ROBERT DALE (1934 ~ 2023). The following is an obituary for Robert D. Jones, former judge of the 167th Judicial District of Texas. The obituary was published in the January 27, 2023 edition of the Austin American Statesman.

The Honorable Robert Dale Jones was born on October 1934 in Fort Worth, Texas and died on January 7, 2023 at his home of nearly 50 years in Austin, Texas. His wife Beverly Ann Jones died with Bob at her side just 12 days prior.

Bob is survived by their three children: Jennifer, Michael and Steve and his wife Dawn and their two granddaughters Grayson and Blayne all of Austin, Texas.

Bob was the sixth of eight children born to Algernon Jones and Marie Jones. He is the last of his siblings to enjoy a full life of 88 years in his beloved Texas.

The Jones family of eight was raised in Mena, Arkansas where Bob attended high school and was a dynamic athlete including football captain of Mena High. In 1953 Bob joined the US Marine Corp rising to the rank of Sergeant and remained in the Marine Reserves serving as a Judge Advocate General before retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1992. His honors included Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, US Marine Corp 3 Star Medal and National Defense Medal.

Bob’s education was a central focus of his life. As a lifelong student he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (1960) with a B.A. in Government followed by attending Law School at UT Austin graduating with his JD in 1964. Advanced education included National Judiciary College (1985) and Texas College of New Judges in the same year. He polished a brilliant legal mind by the continuing education of judicial studies throughout his career as a Senior District Judge and in his retirement a Senior Visiting Judge at the U. S. Naval Justice School and College of the State Bar of Texas.

Bob’s judicial career was preceded by successful law firm affiliations as a defense attorney. He partnered with Les Proctor, Wagonner Carr and Byron Fullerton and most recently longtime partner Langdon Smith all in Austin.

A life member of the Texas Ex’s, Bob’s passion was following and supporting the University and their athletic teams, both men and women’s.

Bob can be remembered by scores of people as any-man’s man. His tireless pursuit and patience with relationships that stretched across the state of Texas, he never met a stranger and offered himself in service to trusted family, friends, and acquaintances alike. A sportsman and a gentlemen lawyer put him in many arenas throughout his life but none greater than that of family. Bob and Bev’s daughter Jenny was born in 1967 with a severe handicap which created a lifelong advocacy for the mentally disabled, serving on the Board of Directors for Hope House-Austin a residential center for Handicapped Children where Jenny still resides today. Hunting and fishing with his sons, brothers and nephews, he pursued across all the landscapes of Texas, the coast of Ogunquit, Maine and on the White River in Arkansas. It is in these places where his family will scatter his remains to be remembered and become one with the land that created the man.

Bob and Bev will be interned at the Texas State Cemetery (909 Navasota, Austin, Texas 78702) on Wednesday, February 8th at 10:30A followed by a reception in their honor. A meal will be served and all who knew and loved Bob and Bev are encouraged to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Hope House Austin at hopehouseaustin.org. There will be a donation basket at the reception if guests prefer not to make online donations.

The family would like to thank Erica and Zaynah Baghezza, Melania Santos Sanchez and the staff and caregivers from Visiting Angels and Hospice Austin for their compassionate care as well as the countless devout family and friends who kept him company with stories and tall tales of a seasoned life in the state that defined and made the man, Robert Dale Jones. He will be missed and forever treasured in our memories.