Martha Jones

MARTHA ANN JONES
Martha Ann Jones, 86, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka.

She was born May 24, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Will and Florence Perrin. When she was about seven years old, she moved to Kansas City, Mo. to live with her grandparents. Later she moved to Madison, Wisconsin and attended high school there.

She attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and worked for a time as a model for a clothing company. She moved to Baldwin, Kansas with her grandparents and while there, was introduced to a young man named Judd Henry Jones, who rented a room from her grandparents.

Shortly thereafter she was hired by TWA as a junior meteorologist in Burbank, California. During WWII, Judd Jones became a Chaplain in the United States Army and was based in Southern California. There Martha Ann and Judd Jones became reacquainted. One time Martha Ann helped Judd obtain a reservation to fly home on leave. With the gentle wit he was known for, Judd told Martha Ann; "You'd better marry me, before some other girl snaps me up. Obviously, Martha Ann had a great faith, so she simply said: "All right". And soon thereafter, they were married on June 6, 1944 in Hollywood's First Methodist Church.

Before Judd was assigned to go overseas, they lived in San Luis Obispo and Marysville, California. While Judd was overseas, Martha Ann lived in Hollywood and was a TWA reservationist.
After Judd's discharge, he was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Church. Martha Ann and Judd served Methodist churches at Marysville and Oketo; First Methodist Church in Wamego; First United Methodist Church in Chanute; Washington Avenue Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kansas; Trinity United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kansas; and the First United Methodist Church in Emporia.

When Judd retired from the active ministry, they moved to Topeka and eventually to Aldersgate Village. Judd Henry Jones passed away on July 18, 2003.

Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a daughter, Terry Lee Jones. She is remembered by many dear friends from each city where Judd and she served.

Martha Ann and Judd conducted a number of church group tours to Israel and many countries in Europe, during which they established many lasting friendships. Other than the church tour trips, Martha Ann's passion was gardening. Her flower gardens were very important to her and she was well known for their beauty. Even as she moved from her apartment to the health unit, she was concerned about her flowers and encouraged residents to move as many of her plants as they could handle. So her flowers may well be seen throughout the Aldersgate complex.

Baker University established the Judd H. and Martha Ann Jones Chair to honor them both for their many contributions to the United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 2008 in Wesley Hall at Aldersgate Village. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Mrs. Jones will lie in state one hour prior to the service at Wesley Hall.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Judd H. and Martha Ann Jones Chair at Baker University, 618 8th St., Baldwin City, KS 66006 or to the Good Samaritan Fund at Aldersgate Village, 7220 S.W. Asbury Dr., Topeka, KS 66614. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.