Thomas F. Jones, 73 of Salina, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Salina Presbyterian Manor. He loved his Lord, family, country and friends.

Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Maynard and Letty (Raver) Jones, Tom moved to Salina around 1960 when his father opened Gibson’s Discount Center. He attended what is now known as Salina Central High School. He won the high school drumming championship for the state of Kansas and was a member of Silver Sabers Drum and Bugle Corp. He attended Marymount College and K-State in Manhattan. In the early 1970s Tom began pursuing a career as a professional drummer for musical stars in Nashville.  Some of the country music stars included Sonny Louvin (one of the early members of the Grand Ole Opry); Crystal Gayle (sister of Loretta Lynn), George Jones, Lee Greenwood and Dolly Parton. Individual performances with other stars included Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Ronstadt and the like. Tom also performed on top TV shows of the 1970s with numerous country stars such as the Merv Griffin Show, Johnny Carson, Hee Haw and Saturday Night Live to name a few.

One of his fondest memories was performing with Dolly Parton at a command performance for the Queen of England while on a European tour with Dolly Parton.

After the days of performing live on the road with country stars, Tom along with two other former members of Dolly Parton’s band formed their own group with 3 musicians from Texas called “Bandera.” They signed a recording contract in the early 1980s, cut an album which had a song that ended up in the Top 50 Hits of the day and performed all across the Unted States before disbanding several years later. Tom then pursued recording session work for numerous recording studios in Nashville for several years. In 1983 he and his wife decided to move to Salina to settle down, raise a family and help his father and brothers in the family business: Gibson’s Discount Center and Ace Hardware Home Center. He has served at different times as President and Vice President of the business.

Tom had a great love for the game of golf over his life and felt so blessed to have the best golf buddies and friends. Those guys will always remain in his heart.

Survivors include his wife, Tamara (Whelpley) Jones; daughter, Jennifer Jones Hubbard and husband Jim Hubbard; grandchildren, Sadie, Thomas, Olivia, Eli, and Swin; daughter, Lindsay Jones; grandson, Benjamin Derr; brother, Mark Jones and wife Carolee; nephew, Adam Jones and wife Natalie and children, Myles and Kayleigh; niece, Dr. Brooke Jones and husband Jared Hulstine and children Beck, Marit and Sylvi; brother, Scott Jones and wife Alice; nephews, Michael Jones, John Jones and wife Taylor; niece, Annie Jones; sister-in-law, Renee Whelpley; and brother-in-law, Michael Whelpley of Los Angeles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maynard and Letty Jones; grandchild, baby Lue Hubbard, along with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A private family graveside service will be held at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.

The family requests donations to Emmanuel Church Salina, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Children’s Miracle Network at KU Medical Center.