Robert Harold Jones

Robert Harold Jones, Colonel, USAF (Ret) passed away August 14, 2016. He was born in Iowa City, Iowa on Dec 26, 1923, to Richard and Elizabeth Jones. He is survived b y his wife Marjorie, daughter Betsy Cortner (Jack) of Shelter Island and New York City, NY., grandchildren Peter Matthes of New York City, Kathryn Graf Hunt (John) of Raleigh, NC, Jeanne Graf of Durham, NC, and Robert Graf of Cary, NC, and nephew Michael K. Jones (Gilda), Freeport, NY. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard Kenneth and sister-in-law Mary Lou Jones, his daughter Ann Jones Graf (Paul), and nephew William R. Jones. He graduated from Iowa CIty High School in 1942 and attended the University of Iowa until entering the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation Cadet in 1943. After earning his pilot wings in 1944, he flew combat missions from France and Germany as a P-47 fighter pilot. He remained in the military and served in various staff and flying assignments such as an Air Defense jet fighter pilot, an exchange pilot with the U.S. Navy flying jet fighters off an aircraft carrier in the Korean War, and also as a General's Aide. He changed career fields to logistics in 1960 and held progressively important positions, including Chief of Maintenance of an F-100 fighter wing in the Vietnam Conflict, as Assistant Deputy for Maintenance of a B-58 Bomber Wing (SAC), DM of an F-4 Fighter Wing in the United Kingdom;, and finally as Chief, Logistics Division, of the Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, retiring in 1975 During his 32 years of service he was awarded the Legion Of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He enjoyed playing golf and Bridge and was a long time member of Rolling Hills Golf Club, Longwood, FL. He was Manger, then Vice President of the Robertson Golf Car Company in Kissimmee, FL for six years. He was a member and an usher for 26 years at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 5618. He and his wife were Volunteers at Winter Park Memorial Hospital for 26 years. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on August 20, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sr. Maria Sciortino, SNJM, Scholarship Fund, in care of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701. DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of all arrangements.

Robert Harold Jones

December 26, 1923 - August 14, 2016