Russell Allen Jones

Lexington- Russell Allen Jones, age 80, husband of Karen K. Jones, passed away early in the evening on Saturday, April 4, 2020, of health complications unrelated to the current COVID19 virus pandemic. Russell was born in Macon, GA on February 26, 1940 to William Russell and Wanda Anniece Jones. In addition to his wife of 61 years, Russell is survived by his daughter, Jamie Coomer of Frankfort; grandchildren, Amber Boone of Lawrenceburg and Joshua Dunbar of Lakeworth Beach, Florida; and great-grandchildren, Hailey, Aubryn, and Russell Andrew Cleveland of Lawrenceburg. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Russell and Wanda Anniece Jones, and his son Russell (Rusty) Allen Jones, Jr. Russell began working at an early age. Only eight years old, he delivered papers on his bike each day before school. He worked at various jobs while in high school and built his own car when he was sixteen using parts from a junk yard where he worked. Russell enlisted in the Army just after completing high school and after his discharge attended the Georgia Institute of Technology. By then he and Karen were married and he was a father with two children, so it was necessary for him to work full time while he attended Georgia Tech classes full time. Even so, he managed to have the highest freshman grade point average, won several scholarships, was elected to Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi and earned a B.S. in Applied Psychology, graduating with Highest Honors and at the top of his graduating class. Russell was then accepted at Duke University where he earned his Ph.D in Psychology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. His first teaching position was the Livingstone College at Rutgers University. Two years later, he accepted a position as Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine and moved to Kentucky. Two years later he was promoted to Associate Professor and also held a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky. In 1981 he was promoted to full Professor, Department of Behavioral Science and remained in that position until accepting the position of Chair, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida. Russell remained at the University of North Florida and entered the phased retirement program in 2000. He and Karen moved back to Kentucky in 2003. His Honors and Honor Society memberships, Professional Society memberships, Service Activities, Publications, Papers, Invited Addresses, and Research Activities, are too numerous to mention. While Russell was in the hospital last week, the nurses, physicians and other staff showed the family extreme kindness and concern even though we were not allowed to visit (due to COVID19 protocol) until the final few hours of life. We would like to thank them as well as the EMTs, and ER staff for their efforts and the care they provided. Quiet and humble, Russell’s wishes for no services will be honored. The family would like to include the following tributes instead – these from a dear friend, and from the Lexington, KY community where he resided. Dr. Russell Jones’ Tribute I am honored to write this tribute to my friend, Dr. Russ Jones. I met Dr. Russell A. Jones in the mid1980s when he came to Jacksonville, FL to become the Chairperson of the Psychology Department at the University of North Florida. Although he, as the department chair, was on the “day shift” in the psychology department, and I was an adjunct professor who taught evening classes on the “night shift,” we soon became good friends. Russ had a hilariously dry sense of humor and we shared many laughs, including referring to each other as “ships passing in the night” because he was leaving work just as I was arriving each evening. We were both social psychologists and we enjoyed comparing notes about people and events in our field. He was a wonderful mentor and department chair! When I told Russ I was leaving Jacksonville to work as a consultant for a national trial consulting firm, he hosted a wonderful going away party for me, then asked me if there would be any way I would consider accepting a full time academic position instead of moving. I jokingly told him he should have asked me to stay before hosting such a great party! In the years since Russ and I both moved away from Jacksonville, we have had several fun times together when he and his lovely wife, Karen, visited South Florida. Russ and Karen always had a sense of adventure, including a willingness to have close encounters with alligators during an airboat ride in the Everglades. The things I will always appreciate and remember most about Russ are unrelated to his status as a ground breaking researcher and author of numerous publications in social psychology, but the other things that made him truly special, such as his eagerness, despite being the department chair, to teach introductory psychology; his curiosity about everyday experiences; and most of all, his respect for me as a colleague and friend. Russ, you will be missed by all those who knew you! I am proud to have been your friend. Dr. Melissa Pigott Magnus Research Consultants Pompano Beach, FL A Tribute to Russell Jones from his Lexington Community Russ loved his daily 5 mile walk around our beautiful community. When you get out for a walk – remember Russ. Russ was an avid reader. When you pick up your next book to read – remember Russ. Russ loved to travel. When the stay-at-home duties are lifted and you can GO again - remember Russ. Finally, Russ loved to go out to eat. The next time you get out to your favorite restaurant – remember Russ.