Otis Jones

Mr. Otis Albert Jones, age 82, of Country Lane, Winston-Salem NC, died Saturday, January 30 at Brian Center in Lexington. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, February 3 at Vernon Forest Baptist Church, where he was a member, by Rev. James Brown, assisted by Rev. Terry Coates. Burial will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Wednesday prior to the service and other times at the home of his daughter, Patti Varner, 6 Arbor Drive, Lexington. Mr. Jones was born February 9, 1927 in Forsyth County to Robert Albert Jones and Ella Booth Jones. He was the owner/operator of Otis A. Jones Surveying Company, Inc. He was a veteran of the US Army, having served in World War II. Mr. Jones was instrumental in organizing the Piedmont Chapter of the NCSS and served as its third president. After reorganization, he served that same chapter as secretary/treasurer for a number of years. He taught surveying classes at Forsyth Technical Community College in the early 1970s, and formed the exam review class there, teaching for approximately 17 years. In 1985, Otis was elected vice president of the statewide chapter of the NC Society of Surveyors, and the following year was its president. His first goal as president was to organize the NCSS Institute. In 1987, the Institute was formed and Otis served as its chairman from 1987-1995. In 1995, he became an instructor and continued as such until his retirement. The NCSS Institute has become a premier model in the nation for continuing education for land surveyors. Beginning in 1996 and for a number of years thereafter, Otis chaired the NCSS Historical committee whose accomplishments include the archiving of 27,000 maps in North Carolina, and the collection of historical surveying artifacts. Mr. Jones most prolific contribution to his occupation, which he dearly loved, culminated in 1998 with the directors of the NCSS Museum of Archives and Preservation of Surveying, Inc. (NCSS Maps, Inc.) embarking on a project to put together a book on the history of Land Surveying in North Carolina. Otis, president of NCSS Maps, Inc. was asked to head the project. Under his leadership, a group of land surveyors throughout the state volunteered to help decide on and organize topics to be included. In 2006, the book “Following in Their Footsteps-Land Surveying in North Carolina” was published with Otis A. Jones as the Executive Coordinator. Mr. Jones received the following awards throughout the years: NCSS President’s Award, 1983, 1985. Fellow Member Award- 1986, Piedmont Chapter NCSS True Line Award-1986, elected First Surveyor of the Year- 1990, Piedmont Chapter NCSS President’s Award, 1993, 1994, Polaris Award, 1997, Shining Star Award- 1999, 2001, Special Recognition Award, NCSS Maps, Inc.,1999, Special Recognition Award, Chairman of the NCSS Institute, Director of the NCSS Institute and member of the NCSS Education Committee. In addition to his efforts in the field of Land Surveying, Mr. Jones was also an active member of the Winston-Salem Exchange Club, serving as president in 1962 and 1982. He was named Exchangite of the Year in both 1962 and 1982. He was also a member of the North Carolina Exchange Club. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elinor Church Jones of the home; his daughters, Patti Jones Varner and husband, Craig, of Lexington and Natalie Jones Foster and husband, Steven, of Reidsville; his brothers, Roy G. Jones and wife, Betty, of Kernersville, Charles Franklin Jones, and wife, Betty, and Ted Richard Jones of Thomasville; his grandchildren, Jessica Jackson, and husband, Kevin, Rachael Owen, Caleb Foster, and Linnie Foster; and his great grandchild, Rance Jackson, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Marie Collins, and his parents, Robert Albert Jones and Ella Booth Jones. Special thanks are to be given to the staff at Brian Center of Lexington, for their concerns and affection for Mr. Jones. Most thankful are we for nurses Joanne, Lisa, and Melissa, for your tender care, and our family will cherish all that you did to make him comfortable and at peace as he entered into the presence of our Lord. Memorials may be made to Vernon Forest Baptist Church, 274 Mt. Vernon Church Road, Winston Salem 27107 or to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607.