Ronald Leroy Jones

It is with sadness that the family of Ronald Leroy Jones announces the passing of Ron,  87, on March 17, 2026, at 2 a.m. at the Landmark care facility in Yakima, Washington.

Ron was born in Billings, Montana, on Dec. 23, 1938, to LoDeema and Seldon Jones. He was a man of curiosity and intelligence who loved science, technology, music and adventure; an outstanding family man and a local businessman.

Ron’s youth was spent in Montana, Idaho and Utah while his father served in the Navy during World War II, before becoming a Western Auto regional manager. The family eventually settled in Grandview, Washington, where Ron graduated with the class of 1958. He attended Washington State University before transferring to the University of Washington in Seattle, where he earned his master’s degree and, in 1963, married the love of his life, Andrea Caren Bolander, “Caren.” They welcomed their first son, Scott, in 1965.

Ron and Caren had their second son, Ian, while Ron was completing his doctorate-level studies in marine biology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in 1970. The Jones family then moved to Moses Lake. Ron worked at his father’s Western Auto store before opening his own audio and appliance repair shop, which eventually became Ron’s Electronics and multiple Radio Shack locations in Moses Lake and Ephrata.

Ron was a member of the Lions Club and served multiple years as president. He supported Caren, a Lady Lion, tirelessly through many charitable and local events, including the Space Burger booth at the Grant County Fair each year. Together they enjoyed skiing at Mission Ridge and traveled often to Mexico, Hawaii and Ireland. In his 50s Ron began mountain climbing, summiting Rainier and Adams, and completing a three-week high-altitude adventure through Nepal.

Caren passed away in 2011 after a 10-year battle with lymphoma. Ron remained active with his outdoor hobbies, keyboard playing and property management. In 2018 he attended his 1958 Grandview class reunion and reconnected with classmate Lucille Hanson Schmitt. They spent his final years together, making the most of his last chapter and a beautiful ending to a well-traveled life.

Ron is survived by his sons Scott of Spokane, Washington, and Ian of Moses Lake, Washington; his five grandchildren; and his sister Marcia of McCall, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his father Seldon, his mother LoDeema and his younger brother, Gordon.

An informal celebration and toast of Ron’s life, open to friends and former customers, will take place at his favorite Moses Lake restaurant, Michael’s on the Lake, on Aug. 22 from 3 to 6 p.m.