Selden Russell Jones

August 6, 1918 – January 4, 2020

Selden Russell Jones (Jonesy or SR), 101, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed peacefully into his heavenly home on Jan. 4, 2020. He was born Aug. 6, 1918, in Wellsford, Kansas, to Roy Sherman Jones and Bernice Ethel Anderson Jones. He graduated from Dodge City High School in 1936. During his school years he was active in scouting and received his Eagle Scout Badge and participated in many outdoor activities.

He relocated to Billings, Montana where he met and married Lodema (Dee) Gertrude Kennerd. He worked for his brother Carl Jones at the Billings F.W. Woolworth’s Department Store. Lodema worked in the notions department. They married June 4, 1938. They started their family and were blessed with two little boys, Ronald LeRoy and Gordon Reid.

He began working for Western Auto Supply Company in 1941 in the Billings, Montana store. For the next few years he served as manager until he was drafted into the U.S. Navy in the latter years of World War II. He completed his basic training in San Diego, California and served from 1944–1946. He was deployed to the Pacific Theater aboard the US475 Minesweeper as a radarman. His ship took part in many of the missions in and around Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima during the height of the conflicts in those areas. His final assignment was to clear the path for the USS Missouri, the ship that hosted the official Japanese surrender and marked the end of the war in September 1945.

Following his naval service, he returned to his job at Western Auto. The little family moved all around the areas of Montana, Utah, Idaho and Washington. A head for business and marketing gave him a reputation as a problem solver and he had the skills to bring up the numbers for every location in which he managed. He thrived with the company.

In 1950 their family grew by one, a daughter Marcia Rae. Their little family was complete and they settled in Grandview, Washington where he managed a Western Auto Supply Dealer store there for several years.

The family immersed themselves in the Yakima Valley Community and became active members in the Grandview Methodist Church. He also became active in the Fraternal Order of Masons in 1954. Selden took his love of music to the next level and became a choral member of the Lower Valley Chorus in 1953.

He took a fun part-time job as projectionist at the local movie theater as well. He always loved a good movie. In 1953 he built his family a home in Grandview. In the years that followed he grew to love the life that Western Auto provided for his family. The time came when he hoped to find a store of his own. In 1959 he purchased a dealer store in Moses Lake, Washington.

His wife Lodema, his partner in life, was now his partner in business as well. For the next 20-plus years, he owned and operated the Moses Lake store, establishing a loyal clientele and reputation of quality sales and great service. It garnered him many Dealer Awards.

He was active in the community, taking positions on the education committee of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce and serving on the City Planning Commission and the Moses Lake School Board. He was a member of Moses Lake Rotary and continued his active membership in the Moses Lake Masonic Lodge. He received his Scottish Rite Rose Croix 32nd Degree pin in 1963.

Jonesy found joy in several kinds of activities throughout his long life. He got his pilot’s license, played golf, was an avid swimmer. He and Dee joined the Moses Lake Merry Mixers and was known to cut a rug on many a Saturday night. He took up snow skiing and shushed down the slopes of Mission Ridge well into his 70s. He was also known to make a mean martini with a generous amount of olives.

Selden was with Western Auto for close to 40 years. He retired in 1981 to enjoy his retirement years with his family and fun times with the many friends he had from his busy active life. He did a part-time job helping his son Ron at his Radio Shack stores during the 1980s and into the ’90s.

In 1988 he and Lodema celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Traveling with his wife, and friends or just plain “putzing” around his house and yard seemed to fulfill his life.

In 2011 he and Lodema moved into Faith Larkin Adult Care Home. After being together 75 years, she passed away in 2012. It remained Selden’s home until his passing.

In 2018 a large celebration, with family and friends, was held in honor or his 100th birthday.

Selden was a man of many talents. He was surely a Mr. Fix-it and was a firm believer in having every hand tool ever invented (and any number of each was better than having just one). He was a spiritual and patient man in all situations and believed in and practiced the Golden Rule.

He was loved and respected by his many friends, described as a fun-loving and loyal friend with a witty and dry sense of humor. Selden’s caring nature was an endearment to all who knew him. He truly exemplified a life well lived.

Selden is survived by his son Ron Jones and daughter Marcia Rae; grandchildren Scott A. Jones, Ian Jones, Rayan Hietala and Stephanie Jones Pagan and great-grandchildren Taylor Andrew Jones, Tareyn Jones, Noah Jones, Leighton Jones, Izabella Avery Hietala, Anastacia Mae Hietala, JJ Pagen, Nicholas Pagan and Andrew Pagan.

There will be no funeral services. His ashes will be commingled with Lodema’s and spread at their favorite spot along the coast of Washington.