Paul Gordon Jones

Paul Gordon Jones of Ellicott City, Maryland passed away on May 19, 2021 at home with his loving wife at his side. He fought a long battle with cancer and finally succumbed to his injuries due to a fall.  He was 91.

Paul was born on December 26, 1929 in Baltimore, Maryland.  He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.  He joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany outside of Heidelberg.  Upon his return he married Elaine Phelps Jones of Catonsville, MD.  They had two children David Gordon Jones and Cindy Anne Jones.  He moved with his wife and children to the countryside of Howard County where he lived out his life in Ellicott City.  He went to church and to Grandmother Phelps’s for dinner on Sundays.

Paul was trained in the U.S. Army in microwave technology.  After leaving the Army he went to work for Westinghouse in the underground Standards Lab.  He became an expert in his field participating in various satellite developments and space programs.  He travelled to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, had input in the Apollo Space Program and met some of the earlier astronauts.  He also worked with Boeing. 

Paul was an avid gardener tending to his rose gardens, vegetables, trees and lawn.  His battles with the squirrels, slugs, beetles and ground hogs are epic.  He loved fishing and crabbing in his aluminum rowboat. Seafood was his favorite.  He loved steamed crabs. He was a family man who enjoyed vacations camping and trips to the ocean.  When the kids were older Paul and Elaine travelled out west, also to a big fishing trip in Canada and took a cruise to Alaska.  Paul and Elaine wintered in their RV in sunny Florida. He and Elaine took their only grandchild on a Disney’s Big Red Boat cruise. He loved Jonathan dearly.

Paul is survived by his wife Elaine P. Jones, his son David G. Jones of Sykesville, MD, his daughter Cindy Anne Jones of Arizona, and his grandson Jonathan Powell of Catonsville, MD.  He is also survived by members of the Phelps Clan who he loved dearly.  Paul was predeceased by his parents, John Paul Jones and Lillian M. Jones, and his two sisters Lillian Ayers (Bud) and Margaret White (Paul). 

At a later date there will be a Celebration of Paul’s life.  In Lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: Glen Mar United Methodist Church, 4701 New Cut Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043

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