Thurman "Stump" Jones

THURMAN "STUMP" JONES September 30, 1942 - March 24, 2025 Thurman "Stump" Jones, 82, passed away on Monday March 24, 2025, at his home in Los Banos, California. Mr. Jones was born on September 30, 1942, in Walker County, Alabama, to Thurman Jones Sr. and Tressie Williams. His early childhood was spent being raised by his paternal grandparents and spending time with his father's younger siblings. With optimism and support from his aunt and uncle, Kathleen and John Sims, as a teenager he joined them in their move to Tracy, California. In 1960, he graduated from Tracy High School and remained in the area for employment. It wasn't long before he met his true love, Nancy, while working in the alfalfa hay business for her grandfather, R.C. Smith. Stump married Nancy Ann Smith on November 21, 1964. Together with Nancy and her parents, Marvin and Maxine Smith, he made his way to Los Banos to establish a self-employed custom harvesting business while raising his family. Stump treasured time spent with family and friends whether helping cook at home or for a fundraiser, going to the deer club, taking a drive out to the ranch, catching up on local news at the counter of the Drugstore...[more]

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ravelling around the U. S. to see the sites, or sitting in his garage waving at neighbors that pass by. If he wasn't on the move, you could find him home watching either a football or Giants baseball game. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and Sportsman's Club. Stump is preceded in death by his parents, Thurman Jones Sr and Tressie Williams; aunt and uncle, Kathleen and John Sims; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Maxine and Marvin Smith; sister-in-law, Glenda Krugman; brother-in-law, Bob Smith. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; aunt, Josie Sims; sister-in-law, Joy Bakerink (Archie), brother-in-law, Ron Smith (Tammy); his children, Julie Arotzarena-Espinoza (Pete) and John Jones (Melinda); grandchildren, Dominique and Jordan Arotzarena, Ryan and Jarrett (Marissa) Jones; great grandchildren, Hero and Atlas Jones as well as many nieces and nephews. Our heartfelt thank you to Mark and Teresa for their amazing care, compassion and friendship. They provided our family with peace of mind as Stump continued to live at home while Nancy was being cared for at Valley Springs Memory Care in Los Banos.