At the time of his death, he was working on a Master of Business Administration degree at Western Michigan University.

For 28 years, he worked as a research chemist and a "fine chemicals" supervisor at The Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

As mayor, he presided over significant economic growth, focusing large amounts of money on attracting new developments in the downtown area.

He died 16 days before the election and was replaced on the ballot by Bobby Hopewell, the Mayor[8] of Kalamazoo, who had Jones' widow's blessing.

Twenty months following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, Jones collapsed and died at his home on W. Michigan Ave. the morning of Sunday, October 17, 2010, after attending an early-morning service at Mt.

[10] A large, public "home going celebration," with casket present, was held at noon on Thursday, October 28, 2010 in Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.

A sister-in-law Marie Baskerville is in Connecticut while cousins Jerry and Gail Rumph and their children Victor, Quiana and Justin also survive.