In his youth he was known as “the Golden Toe” for his ability to kick field goals. But it’s more likely that in St. Joseph, Dr. Russ Jones was known for his sermons.

Dr. Jones died last week at age 75.

Raised in Ohio, Dr. Jones was a placekicker in high school and college. His skill at putting the pigskin through the uprights had sportswriters in northwest Ohio dubbing him “the Golden Toe.”

He put football on the back burner after attending a Billy Graham crusade with his father. The call to ministry set him on a path of education that culminated with a doctorate in education and many years on the pulpit.

His wife, Eva Jones, was 25, “an old maid school teacher,” as she puts it, when she met her future husband. The future wedding, in this case, was only three months after that initial meeting.

“Most of the time, it isn’t as successful as ours,” Mrs. Jones said, adding that they would have been married 53 years on July 24.

They had four children together and traveled extensively. Dr. Jones taught in Ohio, Kentucky, Russia and England. He ministered in Ohio, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, Mexico and finally in Missouri.

“I think my dad was pretty much best known for his story telling,” said daughter Julie Jones-McGohan. “He could paint a word picture.”

A true student, Dr. Jones would study hard in preparation for his sermons. What impressed Ms. Jones-McGohan most about her father was that he lived what he preached.

“That, to me, was the measure of the man,” she said. “He lived it every single day.”

Gary Burchett, the associate pastor of administration and adult ministries at Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church, refers to Dr. Jones as a “walking Bible dictionary.” Dr. Jones, who was an interim pastor at Mr. Burchett’s church, also served at the Stewartsville (Mo.) Baptist Church.

“He taught in a way I’ve never seen before,” said Mr. Burchett, who also makes references to Dr. Jones creating a “picture with words” when he stood at the pulpit. “People just loved his teaching.”

Family members were reminded of the impact he had on the congregation while he was in the hospital recently as visitors streamed in and out of his room.

“Anybody could talk to my dad,” Ms. Jones-McGohan said. “Little kids felt like he was theirs.”

Jimmy Myers can be reached

at jimmym@npgco.com.