Elvira Houston Jones, 97, of San Mateo, Calif., died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, July 7, 1995, in her residential care facility, Portola Place, 445 Portola Dr., San Mateo, Calif. Miss Jones was born in Roanoke on April 9, 1898. She spent her early life in Lexington. She was educated in Lexington public schools, Longwood College in Farmville, and at Columbia University in New York, where she received her Master's Degree in History in 1930. She began her full and successful community service career as a teacher of History and English, first in Buchanan, and then in Covington, where she was also Assistant Principal. Later, she taught in private and public schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Her interest and concern for underprivileged children led her to leave teaching and take up social work because she felt she could be of more value in this field. She was especially interested in children's institutions and held executive positions in The Sheltering Arms, New York City, The Children's Community Center of New Haven, Conn., and the Newark Home for Foster Care in Newark, N.J. During her long, dedicated, and meaningful life, Miss Jones guided and helped countless young persons, who looked to her with respect and affection as a devoted and lifelong friend. Miss Jones retired in 1960 and took up residence in Princeton, N.J., where she lived for over 33 years. In retirement, she continued as an interested and active member of the community. She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, the Princeton Historical Society, the American Association of University Women, the Women's College Club of Princeton, and the Colonial Dames of Virginia. Early in 1994, Miss Jones left her congregate care resident in Elm Court in Princeton, N.J., and moved to San Mateo, Calif. Miss Jones had a sister, Marion J. Merritt; and a brother, G. Alexander Jones Jr. Both predeceased her. Miss Jones raised two godsons, James C. Bennett, a graduate of the University of Virginia and until his death in 1992, a practicing attorney in Pennington, N.J., and Robert C. Bennett, a graduate of Princeton University and the Fletcher School and until his retirement in 1992, an officer of Citicorp/Citibank with overseas and domestic assignment. He is a resident of San Mateo, Calif. Miss Jones has four grandchildren, Gennifer Houston Bennett, Sandra Bowers Bennett, Sarah Jones Bennett, and Robert Perkins Bennett. At Miss Jones' request, there will be no funeral service. Interment and graveside service will be private at the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington. Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.

Roanoke Times, July 16, 1995