John Paul Jones' Obituary
John Paul Jones was born on January 3, 1961, at Kaiser Hospital located in Harbor City California. His parents: Travis Jones and Joanne Stoddard Jones at first did not know what to name him. However, as the store goes: John's Father jokingly said, "Let call him John Paul Jones". His Mother loved the name and it stuck. At age 2 John came down with the mumps. In 1954 the family moved from Long Beach, CA to Alameda, CA and later to 4444 Falknuker Drive Freemont, CA. John attended Glenmore Elementary from 1966 to 1969. During those years in Freemont John recalls rushing home to do his math and word flash card homework games with his mother. Afterwards John would watch his favorite TV Shows: SPEED RACER, TOM AND JERRY, THE BANANA SPLITS, THUNDER BIRDS ARE GO, THE MONEKYS, GUMBY AND POKEY, FELIX THE CAT and other cartoons of that era. When John was not watching his TV show after school, he enjoyed playing Batman and Robin with the other kids in the neighborhood trying to keep up with them on his green tricycle. John later received a highly polished purple bicycle with a mental flake banana seat for Christmas that was lovingly put together by his parents. John would attach a playing card to the back wheel spokes with a wooden clothespin while riding his new bike. During baseball season John and the other neighborhood kids would play street baseball. John recalls how the kids would gather around a small battery-operated radio that strained to provide the play-by-play broadcast of the San Francisco Giants or Oakland A's home games,
In the summer of 1969, the family moved from Freemont to Waukegan, Illinois because John's Father had been transferred to Great Lakes Navy Station... The family lived at 1720 Gulf Road from 1969 to 1973. John attended Little Fort Elementary 3rd- 6th grade. John's Mother was always involved with the PTA and was the Classroom and Field Trip mother all 4 years. John visited various places like the Sears Tower, Chicago Museum of History, AMC/American Motor Car Company Factory, Nestle Cholate Factory, Milwaukee Museum of History, Milwaukee Mitchell Park Horticultural Domes and live Theater Manatees shows. John joined the Cub Scouts Troop 14 at the start of the 3rd grade and moved on to Webelos and finally the Boy Scouts. During the winter months John would get a server cold each year in Waukegan. The Worst cold was during a winter snowstorm at a Boy Scout camp out in 13 degrees below zero weather. Some of the best memories was when John received his little red snow sled the first Christmas in Waukegan. John would play with his snow sled each winter like clockwork and loved to hide from his mother by building Snow Fort, Caves and Snowmen. John's Mother would search for him shouting and scream out "John".... "John Paul"..... "John Paul Jones Where are you? Young man where you are?" John would come out from hiding as his mother asked "John where have you been. I have been calling you didn't you hear me its dinner time and it is getting cold out here". John always said, "OH Mom I was playing in the snow and building Snow Caves". John always asked, "Mom how did you find me." "She would reply: It was not hard finding you young man you have snow sled tracks all over the place and I know where hang out... Now let's get inside before you get a cold".
By late November and thru late December 1972 Johns Father went on a trip to Denver, Colorado for a month and he was expected back home by Christmas. John and his mother worried and worried how badly they wanted to get a Christmas tree before his father came back home. So, they worked out a plan to get the Christmas tree a week before the holiday by using the small red snow sled to bring home the Christmas tree. So, they marched out of the apartment on Saturday morning all bundled up with winter jackets, gloves and scarfs with the little red snow sled in tow as they walked from the apartment through the long alley way to the Christmas tree lot. John recall how much fun they had walking, through the long alley talking about how they were getting a Christmas tree the old-fashioned ways. When they arrived at Christmas tree lot the salesman greeted them. The salesman asking what type of tree you do you want. John and his mom responded a nice full tree with white flocking on it". They picked the ideal Christmas tree, and the salesman nailed the tress stand to the stump his mother had for the tree out of her small allowance. The salesman asked where your car was parked so we can load the tree on to your car. John recalls they looked at the salesman and said, "We don't have a car with us, but we have this little red snow sled so please help us tie the tree on to sled and we will go back home thought the ally way to our apartment because we don't live that far way". So, the shocked salesman helped us tie down the Christmas tree and giggled and said, "You guy are taking your tree home the old-fashioned way". We both smiled and spoke. That's what going make this Christmas even more special for a lifetime". John recalls how both pushed and pull the little red sled and tree though the ally way. By the time John and his Mother made it home both where exhausted. We managed get the Christmas tree through three doors and into the apartment to be decorated with lights and bulbs and gifts under the tree. It was the most beautiful Christmas tree John and his mother had ever seen. John recalls when his father came home, he was totally shocked and asked how we got the Christmas tree and home and decorated and: We both just responded with lots of hard work and the little red snow sled.".
In 1973 the family moved again this time to Arlington Virginia, 2222 Jefferson Davis Highway, and apt 1112 just short drive to Washington DC and with excitement saw a majority of the city and all of the historic places a young person could every wish for. That year was also the big for John started 7th grade at Gunston Junior High School in Arlington, Virginia.
By late 1974, John's Father decided it was time to retire. The family debated what part of California it would call home. But seemed to be per determined by his father to move to Long Beach Ca. John Attended Hughes Junior High School from 1974-1976 and then moved on to his Mothers High (Long Beach Polytechnic). John joined the Long Beach DeMolay in 1975 and by 1978 was the Master Councilor. John was also involved with Long Beach Polytechnic Football team and earned two Varsity Letters by his graduation year in 1979. By 1980, John received his first major DeMolay Honor of Knighthood followed soon after by receiving the highest honor of DeMolay Chevalier for dedication and hard work within the organization. John enrolled at Long Beach City College and received his A.A. Degree in Political Science, June 1983. John than transferred to California State University, Long Beach received his B.A Degree in Political Science, December 1986. Also, in 1986 John worked on the George HW Bush campaign and enjoyed meeting the future President and many newly elected officials at various levels of service. Also, by 1986 John received as graduation gift his first trip to Hawaii. When John came back from his two weeks stay to Hawaii he so excited and told his every detail. By Sept 1987 John went on for his second trip to Hawaii and this time the family ended up owning a small piece of paradise on the Big Island. John and his mother have always been excited about Hawaii. John and his mother worked hard for the Toyoda Grand Prix of Long Beach and Indy-Car Race series for a combine 20 years with both organizations. In 1989, John went to Skip Barber Racing School at Riverside Raceway and participated in the school race series at Laguna Seca, Sears Point and the newly formed Las Vegas Speedway. Additionally, John participated in a driver development series in Canada.
On Feb 6, 1989, John started his employment at SMC (Space and Missiles Systems Center) during his 30 years of government service he worked in various departments: The Training Office, Employee Relations Officer, Special Project Office within Civilian Training, Security Specialist, Administrative Officer Deputy Chief of Operations, and as a Unit Deployment Manager from 2004-to 2018 and a Program Manager in 2019.
John has a very long history of attended Long Beach Grand Prix starting at age 17 up to current date. (LE. 41 years in which his mother attended for 33 years with him). Additionally John was well known for say "HEY MOM" do you want to go... or..."HEY MOM" can we go....and She would say with a smile "OK SURE WHEN IS IT KID AND WHERE ARE GOING AND I WILL HELP PAY. Therefore, as part of this "EULOGY "John hopes to honor his mother and their collective memories dreams and aspiration that where not known by most people. Both Joanne and John would enjoy going to the Old Long Beach Mall, Lakewood Mall or South Coast Plaza, to people watch mostly and get something to eat. He enjoyed going to various military airshows with his mother to watch the Blue Angels Flight in the Mid 80's to early 90's at El Toro or Point Mugu Navy Base. The many NASCAR events during the mid-80's and 90's at Riverside Race way before it was closed, The combined 74 years of IndyCar races from the late 70's to 2019 at the Long Beach Grand Prix, The combined 40 years volunteer work from the mid 80's to the mid 2000's with the Long Beach Grand Prix and Champion Auto Racing Team/IndyCar, Sports Car Club of America from the mid 80's to late 2019. John shared his dreams with his Mother of building nice home on the Big Island of Hawaii and even doing our own auto racing all of which were still on the list. They both enjoyed attending 6 Racing at Sears Point, 6 Laguna Seca, 1 IndyCar at Las Vegas, a special birthday trip to Las Vegas for his Mothers at the Cheese Cake Factory, 4 Indy 500, and a 12 NASCAR Riverside including California Speedway, 10 Indy Car races at California Speedway, and 4 Hydroplane boat at Mission Bay San Diego, 3 Oakland A's home Baseball Games, 12 CSULB Dirt Bags Baseball homes at Blaire Field, 20 Men's and Women's Basketball homes games at CSULB, 5 CSULB Homes Coming Celebration, 1 Los Angeles Equestrian Long Beach Area with more planned, 5 Nisei Week Parades and lots of Mocha Ice Cream. They both made lots of friends over all the years from their involvement with motorsports. Everyone knew if they saw John they knew his Mother was not too far away. John had a passion for IndyCar and auto racing that was shared by his Mother. Also, there is family passion for Hawaii.
John is now at rest next to his Mother in Hawaii with his race gear in hand and ready to go racing and his Mother in the pits cheering him on at the racetrack in heaven. Go....Johnny ....Go....That's my son the new Flying Hawaiian.......
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?