Earl E. Jones, hospital executive, archivist

Jones

Earl E. Jones, 87, of Amherst, a retired Buffalo General Hospital executive, died Friday June 1, 2007.

Born in Buffalo, he was a graduate of East High School and attended Bryant & Stratton Business Institute.

In 1941, he was employed by the Buffalo General Hospital in the dietary department and soon advanced to buyer and assistant food service manager. In 1953, he was appointed purchasing agent responsible for establishing one of the first centralized hospital purchasing departments. With the merger of Deaconess Hospital in 1979, he was promoted to corporate director of materials management.

Mr. Jones was one of the founders and first president of the Hospital Purchasing Association of Western New York. Through his efforts, this was the first association to affiliate with the American Hospital Association. In 1967, he was national president of the American Society for Hospital Purchasing Agents. He has written more than 55 papers on every phase of hospital purchasing and materials management and was frequently invited to lecture on the subject.

In 1985, Mr. Jones retired from Buffalo General Hospital with the title of assistant vice president for special projects.

In 1987, he started a second career as archivist for Buffalo General Hospital. Together with his wife Margaret, they established the hospital's first archive. He received an award of merit from the Western New York Association of Historical Agencies for the achievement. A permanent exhibit in the administrative corridor detailing the hospital's history is dedicated to the couple.

In December 1998, Mr. Jones and his wife were honored by the hospital's Junior Board at its annual Snow Ball.

In December 1999, he retired for the second time, ending a career spanning more than 55 years.

In addition to his wife, Margaret S., he is survived by two sons, Judge Mark H. of Key West, Fla. and David K.; and three grandchildren.

Services were held on Tuesday, June 5 from the Harry A. Wedekindt Funeral Home. If desired, memorials may be made to Epiphany United Church Of Christ.