Robert (Bob) Lee Jones, born in Evanston, Illinois 07/03/1949, passed away in his hospital bed on 02/28/2025 in Portland, OR. He is survived by his daughter Heather Jones Champion (Corbin) of Tigard. OR and son Paul Jones of Polsbo, WA, a brother Philip N. Jones, Jr. of Bellevue, WA, two sisters — Cathy Koehn of Olympia, WA and Candee Olafson of Maui, Hawaii, three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his Dad - Philip N. Jones (Sr.) and his Mom - Alice L. (Moore) Jones.

Bob’s parents moved to Edmonds, WA from Illinois when he was 4 years old. He grew up in Edmonds, started both piano and trombone lessons, and completed elementary school in the Edmonds School District. Bob completed Junior High and High School in the Kent School district, graduating in 1967 from Kent-Meridian High School.

While in High School, Bob won many piano and trombone competitions and played trombone for the Seattle Youth Symphony and Kent-Meridian Royalaires Stage Band. He went on to study at the prestigious Eastman School of Music under Emory Remington.

Bob was hired as the youngest Principal Trombone of a major Symphony Orchestra right out of college — the Kansas City Philharmonic.  He went on to play for the Seattle Symphony and Opera, and then went on to teach Public School Music. His last professional playing on Trombone and Piano was on cruise ships in the Mediterranean for seven years.

Bob was the instrumental musical talent in the family. He composed, played, and “wowed” audiences with both his Trombone and Piano Playing. He was quick to laugh — at himself and at the jokes of others --and will be missed by many. Lifelong friend Bruce Alkire remembers him as ambitious, awesome, talented, and athletic.

Memorial donations may be made at https://www.plantmemorialtree…

You can address questions to his brother Phil Jones, Jr. (Kent-Meridian grad 1963)

Email: PhilJonesCRS@hotmail.com Cell/Text: 206-650-5166

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