Maj. Robert Dee "Bob" Jones Ret.

Robert D. "Bob" Jones, 86, Nevada, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, following a lengthy illness. He was born Dec. 6, 1923, in Cainsville, Mo., to Robert M. Jones and Lula Amanda Baines Jones. He married Betty L. Thomas on July 12, 1947, in Nevada, and she survives of the home.

Bob grew up in Arcadia, Kan., and graduated from Arcadia High School. He attended Pittsburg State Teachers College for two years and then graduated from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Bob served in the United States Air Force for 28 years and retired as Major in 1970. He served in Italy during World War II, Vietnam, and was a navigator and bombardier instructor stateside during the Korean War. Bob had great respect for the Navajo Code Talkers and the Tuskeegee Airman. While serving in Vietnam, he received the Silver Star and Distinguised Flying Cross. Following his years in the sevice, Bob came to Nevada and owned and operated Jones Sentry Hardware, formerly Armitage Coast to Coast Hardware Store, for seven years. He then went to work for Carmel Energy as purchasing agent and bookkeeper until his retirement after 19 years. Bob was a lifetime member of the BPO Elks Lodge No. 564 and a member of the VFW Lodge No. 2175 in Nevada. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Nevada.

Survivors in addition to his wife Betty include two sons, John Montgomery Jones and his wife, Tanya, Nevada, and Danny R. Jones and his fiancé, Suzan McDaniels, Nashville, Tenn.; and two granddaughters, Paige Jones, Springfield, Mo., and Kaytlyn Jones, Florence S.C. He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother, Jack.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. A committal service with military honors will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada.

Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Vernon County People for Pets c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

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