Howard Vallance Jones, Jr., 91, of Cedar Falls, died Friday, May 17, 2013, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home, Waterloo. He was born April 6, 1922, in Chicago, son of Howard Vallance Jones, Sr., and Frances Ninetta Edmondson Jones. He married Ellen Margaret Aakvik on July 21, 1956, in Richmond, Indiana. She died December 18, 2000.
He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He graduated from Newton High School in 1939 and earned his A. B., magna cum laude, in 1946; A. M. in 1947; and Ph. D. in 1950, all from Harvard University. Following graduation, he was assistant professor of history at the University of New Hampshire and later Iowa State Teachers College (UNI), where he became professor in 1963. He was the first elected Chair of the Faculty; first University Commencement Marshal; and past Chair of the Faculty Senate, retiring in 1991.
In 1958, he began service as Chair of the Iowa State Teachers College Lecture-Concert Series Committee (later UNI Artists Series) and started the UNI Chamber Music Series in 1967. In 1974, he started the UNI-Civic Arts Association (later Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn) and was executive secretary as well as author of the newsletter until retirement. He was a member of the Association of College and University Concert Managers (now the Association of Performing Arts Presenters), where he served on the board, as national conference chairman, vice president, and president. He was past president of the Cedar Falls Rotary Club.
Survived by: a daughter, Catherine E. (Raul A.) Morales of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and two grandsons, Sean J. and Kayle M. Huffnagle. Preceded in death by: a son, Howard V. Jones III.
Celebration of life service: 4 p.m. Thursday at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls.
Memorials in lieu of flowers: may be directed to the Howard and Ellen Jones UNI Foundation, Community Foundation Howard Jones Chamber Music Fund, or Community Foundation Operatic Fund.
Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded June 19, 2013.