Bob Jones Honored For 75 Years With Mahaska Lodge 644

Bob Jones (seated) received a document commemorating his 75 years with Mahaska County Lodge 644.

Oskaloosa, Iowa—The Masonic Lodge in Mahaska County, Lodge 644, honored one of its longest-serving members, possibly in the state and nation.

Members and his wife celebrated Bob Jones’s tenure with the Masonic Lodge in Oskaloosa during a short ceremony at Homestead of Oskaloosa on Wednesday night.

The ceremony highlighted the lodge’s history and all the volunteer hours Jones dedicated to the community through his involvement in various civic groups.

Jones was brought into the lodge on December 16th, 1948.

A common thread was Jones’s time leading Boy Scouts in Oskaloosa and his influence on those individuals. Those lessons learned followed those individuals into their everyday lives and, sometimes, into encouraging others to volunteer in community organizations.

Wilcox-Garland Furniture as it appeared in the 1950’s (photo courtesy Bob Jones)

Jones and his wife were long-time owners of Wilcox-Garland Furniture, located on the northeast corner of the square in Oskaloosa.

Bob Jones purchased Wilcox-Garland Furniture from Howard Wilcox in 1958. Before buying the business, Jones had worked as a salesman for 11 years for Wilcox and Garland. In a quote from 1958, Jones said, “We are the same quality store that your parents and their parents and friends have purchased their furniture from for the last 100 years.”

2011 Jones sold his building and entered retirement; he and his wife now reside at Homestead of Oskaloosa.