Arada Jones

Arada June Jones, age 87, was at home surrounded with the love of her family when she went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

She was born March 20, 1931 in Maud, Oklahoma to Thornton Earl and Thelma Katherine Epperson Pryor, both deceased. Arada graduated from Odessa High School and married her high school sweetheart, James Powders.

After he graduated from seminary, Baptist Bible College, they answered the call to serve as missionaries in Japan. In 1955, after 23 days at sea crossing the Pacific, they settled in Kumagaya, Japan. Arada and Jimmy's mission statement was: "Taking the message of the risen Son to the land of the rising sun". With the Japanese people graciously embracing them, they worked effortlessly to learn the language and culture as they witnessed to the community. By 1969, they had been instrumental in starting and building four churches and one school. There is no way to know the impact they had as their message continues to this day.

In September of 1969, Jimmy was killed in a plane crash. As a 38-year-old widow with four young children (16, 14, 11, 8), Arada chose to return to her roots in Odessa. There she met and married Charles V. Jones in 1972. Arada and Charlie loved their blended families consisting of 7 children, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. They both also enjoyed their fifth wheel, especially in the mountains of Colorado.

Arada is survived by her husband of 46 years, Charlie. Also, from her first marriage, three children; Debbie Costa and her husband Joe Costa of Grapevine, TX, Steve Powders and his wife Ann of Fort Worth and Lorie Powders of Abilene, TX. From her second marriage Dennis Jones and wife Beverly of Jewett TX, Cindy Hoskins and husband Steve of Oklahoma City, OK and Cliff Jones of Oklahoma City, OK; brother Joe Pryor and his wife Nelda of Bakersfield, CA and sister Glynda Pryor of Dallas, TX.

Arada was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, a daughter Wanda Kathleen, and two sisters, Mary Ann Pike and Dorothy Moore.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 10:00 am with Pastor Al Workman of Crossroads Fellowship, officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made to American Diabetes Association. See website diabetes.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. To sign our guestbook, please visit www.sunsetodessa.com.

Visitation

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Service

Sunset Funeral Home Chapel
6801 East Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762