From the Daily Herald
Van Thomas Jones and his wife, Geneva Smith Jones, founders of Jones and Lang Sporting Goods in Columbia, died within three days of each other. Van Jones who was 83, died Thursday and his wife who was 84, died Saturday.
Van Jones grew up in Ethridge and was a former player, teacher and coach at Lawrence County High and Summertown High.

Jones and Lang Sporting Goods Inc. was created by the couple in 1966 after Van Jones retired from coaching
?Children from all over the region have received trophies made by Jones and Lang,? he said. ?It?s impossible to know how many children have been touched by Van and Geneva?s lives, or how many have been helped by them in and out of athletics.?

The Jones family has been a great influence in the communityThe couple?s daughter, Cindy Johnson is principal of Columbia Central High School.
Services were conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Jacob and Jim Hughes officiating.

Burial was in Restview Cemetery in Loretto.