Last week, Amherst lost one of its titans of business with the passing of Paul C. Jones. Paul was an 8th Generation President, and then chairman of the board, of W.D. Cowls, Inc. He was probably most known for building Cowls Building Supply, his family's retail store in North Amherst. The Chamber sends its best wishes to his wife, Ruth Owen Jones, his children Cinda and Evan, and the entire Jones family.

A memorial service will be held at North Congregational Church, tonight, Monday, November 28 at 5:30pm.

Below, in its entirety, is his obituary.

Paul Codding Jones, 69, died Nov. 21, 2011, following a short illness. Paul was born in North Amherst, son of the late Sarah (Hartman) and Walter Cowls Jones. With his brother Denison (DH) and sister Gertrude, he represented the eighth generation of the Cowls family to grow up on the historic Home Farm on Montague Road and manage the family business. Paul leaves his wife, Ruth Owen Jones; two children, Cinda and Evan; and three grandchildren, Hannah, Rachael and Samuel Jones.

Paul Jones grew up as an active member of the North Amherst Boy Scouts, attending the National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pa., and the International Jamboree in England (where scouting began) in 1957.

Paul was a 1959 graduate of Amherst Regional High School, attended Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was an elected member of Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society. As a member of the UMass Skydiving Club, Paul made 65 jumps. Paul served as an Amherst volunteer fireman and on the fireman's muster team, reporting to the North Amherst station on Pine Street.

Paul married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Owen, one week after their UMass graduation. The wedding reception was held in the University's then-brand new Student Union.

Paul started his career as an engineer at Boston Edison and returned to the area to work for Western Massachusetts Electric Co. before returning to the family business.

As the eventual eighth generation president and then chairman of the board of W.D. Cowls Inc., Paul managed the family's timberland management, lumber manufacturing, real estate and building supply business. The May 13, 1981, Amherst Bulletin read "Paul Jones is one of those people about whom everything is fast. The way he walks, the way he drives, the way he gives orders." In this article Paul was also described as being a meticulous planner and a careful decision maker. His love of growing the family business was characterized by his comment, "I figure every day I'm at work, I'm on vacation."

Paul built Riverside Park Apartments and Stores adjacent to the North Amherst Post Office in the 1970s. In 1980, Paul Jones built Cowls Building Supply, a retail store that featured Cowls sawmill products as a specialty. He expanded the planer mill operation to include a timber sizer and a new planer-notcher, and finished locally harvested sawmill products for retail sales.

Paul and Robert K. Patterson partnered to build numerous North Amherst roads, and they sold over 120 house lots. Streets built by Patterson-Jones include Blackberry Lane Extension (twice), Jason Court, Kingman Road, Sacco Drive, Tuckerman Lane, Cherry Lane Extension, Weaver Circle and Emily Lane (and extension). With Bob Patterson, Paul bought the Barkowski Farm, and, after Bob's death, with his children, Paul developed the Barkowski Farm into Owen Drive and a 20 acre farmhouse lot on Teawaddle Lane. With a larger family partnership he built Lawrence Circle.

Throughout his life, Paul instilled in his children a passion for family, the family business and making the most out of every minute. He would take his young children on tours of local factories and to enterprises of suppliers and customers. He delighted in woods walks, tree identification and wreath making. He had a vision of progress, and a love of Johnny Cash music, that were contagious. To his growing children, his mantra was, "Make us proud," and his tip for lifetime success was, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Paul was a past master of the Pacific Lodge of Masons and a Shriner, and served on the boards of the Three County Fair, the Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association and the Northeast Retail Lumber Association. He was a vocal Amherst Town Meeting member for many years, encouraging sustainable progress.

Paul was a skilled woodworker who made fine furniture and built-ins, but he especially enjoyed making games and toys with and for his grandkids. He once refused a wood burning tool that stamped "Handcrafted by Paul C. Jones" onto his creations, and insisted it be returned for one instead that read "Thrown Together by Paul C. Jones." He was a modest and understated Yankee.

Paul Jones was an excellent water skier, having grown up summering at the family camp on Lake Wyola. One can still hear him yell, "Hit it!" as he jumped off the end of the dock on one waterski as the slack line tightened up.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Ruth, and their friends, preparing elaborate meals, and entertaining.

Donations in Paul's memory can be made to the North Amherst Troop of the Boy Scouts of America. Donations may be sent to Troop 504, c/o People's United Bank, 25 East Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01002.