Allen Jonas

1932 – 2018

Allen Abner Jonas of Bluefield, Virginia, died Sunday, February 11, 2018, at his home. He was 85.

Allen was born April 7, 1932, in Becker County, Minnesota, he was the son of the late Abner Bastian Jonas and Josephine Hildur Harju.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Anne Buffat Jonas, and his brother, Abner Jonas.

Survivors include his loving wife of 20 years, Dot Jonas; sister Joan Jonas Enger (John) of Powell; daughter Katherine Anne Jonas of Chattanooga, Tennessee; son David Allen Jon as of Atlanta, Georgia; sister-in-law Kathleen Ristinen Jonas of Athens, Ohio, and Menahga, Minnesota; three stepsons: Dusty Gess (Charlotte) of Bluefield, Virginia, John Gess (Brenda) of Blacksburg, Virginia, and David Gess (Rebecca) of Barboursville, Virginia.

Allen Jonas graduated from Menahga High School in 1950. He was a professor of art at Bluefield State College in Bluefield, West Virginia, for 25 years (1969-1994). He had a bachelor of arts in economics and political science from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, and a master’s in art from the University of Iowa, and a master of fine arts in painting from the University of Cincinnati.

He was an active member in the National Art Education Association, the West Virginia Art Education Association, and the College Art Association.
Allen was an exchange professor with the Bluefield State College Center for International Understanding. He travelled to China on three occasions where he taught English. He and his wife, Dot, hosted many visiting scholars at their home in Bluefield. Allen was an active member at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Bluefield for over 45 years, serving as both a deacon and an elder.

The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, at Mercer Funeral Home. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 14, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.