Col. Melvin Howell Christensen Jones

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona December 17, 1981,

-Melvin H. Jones was born in Brigham City, Utah on January 13, 1905, and died on December 12. -As a young man of 16 he falsified his age and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. At the completion of his required time in the Navy he enlisted in the U.S. Calvary, advancing to the rank of Colonel during World War Two. He served in the Korean War and was Military Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Bogata, Colombia, South America. -After 30 years of service in the military he retired in 1956. He later received a degree in Geology. -Among his many decorations he was awarded the Bronze Star, Soldiers Medal, Congressional Life Saving Medal, was named Knight Commander and adviser to the President of Colombia and received the Order of Cordoba for the Republic of Colombia. He was also a member of the American Institute of Mining. Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers, and is listed in Who's Who in the West. -He is survived by his wife of more than 23 years, Anamaria Veliz-Chacon Jones, a son Melvin Martin Jones, both of Wickenburg and Las Vegas, Nevada; a daughter Francoise Jones Ball of Garden Grove, California; a son-in-law James Ball, three grandchildren, three nieces and one nephew.

.... Western Prospector and Miner March 1982

-Melvin Jones, a prominent Arizona prospector and small miner died December 12 at the age of 76. Melvin was a very well known geologist in the west and was a member of the Arizona Small Miners Operators Association, a local chapter. -Jones had a distinguished military career as well as one in geology and allied subjects. Enlisting in the US Navy at 16, he served out his enlistment then joined the Cavalry, advancing to the rank of Colonel during World War II. He also served in the Korean War and became military attache to the US Embassy in Bogota, Columbia. He retired from the military in 1956 after completing 30 years of service. He received numerous military awards, as well as several from the Republic of Columbia. Following the completion of this military service, Jones entered into a different field and received a degree in geology. -He first came to Arizona as general manager of Magnet Mining Company. Living in Wickenburg, he was particularly active in beryl and uranium, having sold the Date Creek uranium claims to Union Oil Co. He later worked with precious metals and some non-metallics. Jones was dedicated to the prospector and small miner often making his geological consulting capability available to prospectors who could not afford to employ a consultant and whom he felt were deserving of assistance. -He looked at hundreds of Arizona properties, rarely charging for his services unless some special project was involved. A particularly good friend of the Arizona Department of Mineral resources he usually gave that agency copies of his property reports for their files. He often accompanied their field engineers and assisted upon numerous occasions with technical discussions, evaluations and locations. Jones offered a helping hand and wisdom gained from experience to all who sought his aid. Inscription: US ARMY COL WORLD WAR II, KOREA

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 28 2018, 23:38:07 UTC