Lt. Col. John Egbert “Jay” Jones, USAF (retired), passed away May 19, 2014, in Warner Robins, Ga., after a brief illness. He was born in Statesboro, Ga., on July 28, 1924.
He is survived by his wife, Ursula Pfau Jones; daughter, Suzanne Jones Derrick (Ted), Crestview, Fla.; son, Andrew Paul Jones (Lori), Christiana, Tenn.; grandsons, Ryan Derrick (Colleen), Tallahassee, Fla., Grayson Derrick, Omaha, Neb., Drew Derrick (Phereby), Columbia, S.C., Andrew Jones, Orange Park, Fla.; and a granddaughter, Suzanne Jones Williamson (Danny), Jacksonville, Fla. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren and two nieces.
He was predeceased by his father, Hubert Paul Jones Sr.; mother, Mary Beth Smith Jones; and brother, Hubert Paul Jones Jr., all of Statesboro.
Mr. Jones attended Statesboro High School, The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and graduated from the University of Maryland.
He served in the United States Air Force for 22 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During World War II, he flew 70 combat missions as a B-25 pilot in the Mediterranean theater. In 1948, he flew over 100 missions on the Berlin Airlift as a C-54 pilot. At his retirement in 1965, he was serving the Continental Air Command as director of Transportation. After his military career, Mr. Jones worked in the insurance industry, retiring from Lincoln Financial Group.
Visitation will be held at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Warner Robins, Ga., on Saturday, May 24th, 10–11 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m.
A graveside service will be held in Eastside Cemetery in Statesboro, Ga., at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lions Camp for the Blind, 5626 Laura Walker Road, Waycross, GA 31503; or the donor’s choice.
Heritage Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Posted in:
Posted on:
Link to original obituary: