Beloved father, grandfather and renowned geologist Richard “Dick” David Jones passed away on December 27, 2025 in Tucson, AZ. A native of Yuma, AZ, he grew up during the Great Depression and was part of the “forgotten generation”. His parents were school teachers and taught him to read before he was three. He became an avid reader at a young age and continued his love of reading throughout his life that he even wrote several books and articles as an adult. Throughout his childhood, he was always interested in science. He started his undergrad at University of Arizona in Mining Engineering but changed his major to Geology. He continued at U of A to finish his masters in Exploration and Mining in 1957. Geology led him to work in 8 other countries including: Australia, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Liberia, Mexico and Venezuela. It was while working in Brazil that he met his wife of 30 years, Iraides.    He began his mining and exploration career with Republic Steel and retired after working 23 years with Reynolds Metals Company in the late 1990s. He returned to his beloved Tucson in 2000 where he became involved with the Geosciences Department at the University of Arizona. He was also an active member of the Adobe Corral of the Westerners and the Arizona Geological Society, going to monthly meetings up until the month of his death.     He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Sue Jones and his wife Iraides Jones. He is survived by his son David Jones of Tucson, his daughter Carolyn Jones Mundy and her husband Steven Mundy and his grandchildren Julia and Richard Mundy of Fayetteville, NC. He was the most intelligent man we knew and our rock. We shall always love and miss him!    Viewing and visitation will be on January 16, 2026 at Adair Funeral Home Avalon Chapel from 10:00am to noon. Burial will follow at 1:00 pm at Holy Hope Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers please consider donating to a charity of your choice in his name.