Wes and Lynn Jones
Sometimes a positive attitude and faith in God is what it takes to get through a rough time in life. Lynn Jones believes this, and, her late husband Wes did too. “He was the most positive person I know and it rubbed off on me through our years of marriage. Wes wasn’t afraid of dying. He was certain he was going to a better place.”
Wes Jones was born November 10, 1947 to JB and Ruby Jones in Louisville, Kentucky. He became big brother to his sisters, Elaine and Susan. Wes grew up in Vine Grove, Kentucky, playing outside a lot, being in Scouts, hunting, fishing, and just enjoying the outdoors.
Lynn was born March 3, 1947, the only child of Roy and Oma Ayres, in Chicago, IL. She grew up in Louisville, but always loved the country. Her love of the country led her to her love of horses. In fact, she used to show them. Lynn also spent the days of her youth playing outside and enjoying the outdoors.
When Lynn was at the University of Louisville, studying for her Psychology degree, a mutual friend had a friend that needed a date. That friend of a friend was Wes. Lynn set her roommate up with Wes, but discovered that, after meeting him, she had a twinkle in her eye for him and he for her. “I thought he was so funny. The first time I met him, he had been at basic training and had that military haircut and dorky glasses, but a few months later, his hair had grown out and he was wearing normal glasses. He was still so funny though.” “Wes was always outgoing and I never stole his thunder. I was just as happy not saying a word.” Wes had attended Western Kentucky University and had one semester left until graduation when he was drafted into the Army. After his Army days, Veterans remained close to Wes’ heart. “He was very involved with Veterans and always advocated for them.”
Wes and Lynn were married September 6, 1975 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, by a Justice of the Peace. Wes had bought a farm in South Boston, Indiana and was employed in the car business. On the farm, they gardened and sold a lot of vegetables at the Farmers Market. They also started working in the dairy businesses. Lynn remembers, “Wes would milk the cows and I would raise the calves.” “Farm life was challenging, but we were young and didn’t realize it. The milking parlor was ½ mile away from that drafty house,” Lynn recalls. She continues,” The blizzard of ’77 and ’78, Wes would go through the snow to the parlor and the snow was to his hips. The cows would still produce, but the tanker couldn’t get there. We threw out so much milk.” “Milking was 7 days a week; 365 days a year. There were no vacations.” During that time, both Wes and Lynn applied to be substitute mail route carriers. “We both passed the test in 1979 and were hired as carriers in 1981.” “We both subbed for a while and didn’t have time to farm anymore” So, after 10 years of living on the farm, they moved to Motsinger Road. “We had the boys by then and didn’t want to switch school districts. Wes was Superintendent of East Washington Rural Water at that time too.” “The house had a dishwasher and air conditioning. It was like heaven.”
Wes and Lynn have two sons, Stu and Bart.
Stu and his wife, Amy, have one boy and three girls – Wesley, Lena, and Hannah. Stu just became a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. Bart and his wife, Lee-anna, live in Henryville where Bart is a retirement and investment consultant for companies. They have five girls, Olivia, Lydia, Eliyah, Annalise, and Ariana.
While the boys were in school, Wes got a full-time job at the Post Office and Lynn was hired full-time two years later. “We had Rural Route 1 and Rural Route 3. Newt Bush was between us with Rural Route 2.” They both remained at the Post Office for many years.
After several years of living on Motsinger Road and the boys were off on their own, Wes and Lynn moved to Salem. “Wes always like their current house. He saw it in the paper for sale. It was in terrible shape, but we just had to have it. It had good bones and was well built. The view is to die for.” The plan was to fix it up, live there for 10 years, and sell it. It didn’t quite happen that way as Lynn still lives there. “Wes always enjoyed working on the house. He was a bit of a handyman. He and John Quatroke worked as a team. They always set their own hours. They didn’t want anyone to tell them when to start work or when they could finish.” Lynn and Wes both enjoyed being outside in the yard and attending Blue River Baptist Church. While Wes was helping out at the Y, Lynn could be found gardening or reading or learning about family history. “Stu did a lot of research on my family history and found out so much I didn’t know.” Another hobby they shared was Corvettes. “Linda Meadors started a Convertible Club. It didn’t matter what kind of convertible you had, you were invited. We would all meet on a Saturday afternoon, drive through the country, eat somewhere, and then drive home.
Giving back to the YMCA is also a priority of Wes and Lynn. “He loved helping at the Y and being at the Y.” That is why after Wes’ death in 2019, Lynn established the Wes and Lynn Jones Fund. “We want to help the YMCA be the best they can be. It’s a worthwhile organization.” Wes was always giving of himself and he loved it.
While reflecting on Wes, Lynn remembered when they were shopping in Clarksville. “I know Wes was a crazy man, but a man of high character. One time, we were in a parking lot and a drug addict came up to the window wanting money. Well, Wes bought him a meal and talked to him for 30 minutes about Jesus.” “He would pick up hitchhikers and scare me to death.” “Wes made me a better person. We both said treat other people how you’d want to be treated should be basis of everyone’s life.”
Wes and Lynn Jones moved to Washington County 43 years ago on a fluke. They hadn’t heard of South Boston, or Motsinger Road, or Salem, but Wes wanted a farm and the realtor had one here. “We love the people in Washington County. It’s home. It’s where friends are.”
Washington County is lucky to have friends like Wes and Lynn.
