Age 49, of Los Angeles, Ca. died of cancer, Monday, Dec 21, 1992 at Cedar Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills, Ca. Born Aug 5, 1943 in Gary, he was the son of Herman & Velma Jones. Formerly of Hobart he was a 1961 graduate of Hobart High School. He was a buyer and seller of precious gemstones, doing business in all parts of the free world. He was mentioned in the 1989 and 1990 Guiness Book Of World Records for special gemstones he obtained which contained natural occurring images of birds and persons. Cremation was performed prior ro burial in Sesser, Il. Mr Jones is survived by his brother, Bobby A. Jones of Hobart; and many friends throughout the world. He is preceded in death by his parents. (local obituary)
Art patron Lowell Jones, the son of a Gary steel worker was known to famous artist and counted Aristotle Onassis amoung his clients. A Gary native with unusual tastes as a patron of the arts is dead. Lowell Jones, a 1961 Hobart High School graduate, was the son of a Gary steel worker. He made a fortune as a St Louis based gem dealer. He died at age 49 Monday in Beverly Hills, Ca. As did many art patrons throughout history, Mr Jones commissioned works from famous artist and from artist who he viewed as promising, little known talents. The odd twist is that in each case Mr Jones required the artist to do a protrait of him. They included the work of Fabian Bachrach, 'the photographer of presidents'; Elliot Banfield, illustrator for the New York Review of Books & Time Magazine; George Booth, cartoonist for the New Yorker magazine; Northwest Indiana's Dave Messick, creator of the Chicago Tribune comic strip, 'Brenda Star'; Burne Hogarth, illustrator of Tarzan comics; and Robert Risko, caricaturist for Vanity Fair & Interview magazines. In 1983, Mr Jones brought a 35 portrait exhibit of paintings, drawings, caricatures & photographs to the Gary Public Library for exhibition as part of the library's 75th anniversary celebrations. The works included a surrealistic illustration by Banfield of a lean man kneeling in an open space flanked by two circus tents and juggling about a dozen gemstones. Mr Jones donated a number of portraits to the library and they are displayed in Gary on a periodic basis. He is survived by his brother, Bobby of Hobart. Bobby states that his brother was indeed eccentric. 'I think we've all heard stories about how Howard Hughes lived his life. My brother was very similiar. He never really lived anywhere. With his gemstones and artwork, he was always on a plane. He lived the last 25 years out of a suitcase.' He had a multitude of friends, including many celebrities. 'He had pictures of Aristotle Onassis on his boat. He was one of my brother's customers.' He had a soft spot in his heart for animals. 'He had two dogs, They were just mutts. He found a home for them before he died. It was important to him that they stay together. He did many benifits for the humane society in St Louis.' The memorial service will be held in Mt Vernon, Il, date is still pending. (Local newspaper article)
Linda Smith (Hominger) (1961)
Benny Lowell Jones
Age 49, of Los Angeles, Ca. died of cancer, Monday, Dec 21, 1992 at Cedar Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills, Ca. Born Aug 5, 1943 in Gary, he was the son of Herman & Velma Jones. Formerly of Hobart he was a 1961 graduate of Hobart High School. He was a buyer and seller of precious gemstones, doing business in all parts of the free world. He was mentioned in the 1989 and 1990 Guiness Book Of World Records for special gemstones he obtained which contained natural occurring images of birds and persons. Cremation was performed prior ro burial in Sesser, Il. Mr Jones is survived by his brother, Bobby A. Jones of Hobart; and many friends throughout the world. He is preceded in death by his parents. (local obituary)
Art patron Lowell Jones, the son of a Gary steel worker was known to famous artist and counted Aristotle Onassis amoung his clients. A Gary native with unusual tastes as a patron of the arts is dead. Lowell Jones, a 1961 Hobart High School graduate, was the son of a Gary steel worker. He made a fortune as a St Louis based gem dealer. He died at age 49 Monday in Beverly Hills, Ca. As did many art patrons throughout history, Mr Jones commissioned works from famous artist and from artist who he viewed as promising, little known talents. The odd twist is that in each case Mr Jones required the artist to do a protrait of him. They included the work of Fabian Bachrach, 'the photographer of presidents'; Elliot Banfield, illustrator for the New York Review of Books & Time Magazine; George Booth, cartoonist for the New Yorker magazine; Northwest Indiana's Dave Messick, creator of the Chicago Tribune comic strip, 'Brenda Star'; Burne Hogarth, illustrator of Tarzan comics; and Robert Risko, caricaturist for Vanity Fair & Interview magazines. In 1983, Mr Jones brought a 35 portrait exhibit of paintings, drawings, caricatures & photographs to the Gary Public Library for exhibition as part of the library's 75th anniversary celebrations. The works included a surrealistic illustration by Banfield of a lean man kneeling in an open space flanked by two circus tents and juggling about a dozen gemstones. Mr Jones donated a number of portraits to the library and they are displayed in Gary on a periodic basis. He is survived by his brother, Bobby of Hobart. Bobby states that his brother was indeed eccentric. 'I think we've all heard stories about how Howard Hughes lived his life. My brother was very similiar. He never really lived anywhere. With his gemstones and artwork, he was always on a plane. He lived the last 25 years out of a suitcase.' He had a multitude of friends, including many celebrities. 'He had pictures of Aristotle Onassis on his boat. He was one of my brother's customers.' He had a soft spot in his heart for animals. 'He had two dogs, They were just mutts. He found a home for them before he died. It was important to him that they stay together. He did many benifits for the humane society in St Louis.' The memorial service will be held in Mt Vernon, Il, date is still pending. (Local newspaper article)