Robert T. Jones, Jr. age 98 of Newark, DE passed away peacefully at his home on November 28, 2017. He was born on March 1, 1919 in Newark, DE to the late Robert T. Jones, Sr. and Esther P. (Ferguson) Jones. Robert is survived by his daughters: Cynthia A. Jones of Atlanta, GA and Nancy J. Lyons and her husband, Robert of Southport, CT; grandchildren: Robert G. Lyons, Jr., Allison C. Lyons, and John T. Lyons also of Southport, CT; sister, Marian Ginn of Omaha, NB; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Audrey Stilwell Jones, as well as his sister, Marjorie A. Valentino. He died in his home which is across the street from the house where he was born.
Bob graduated from Newark High School in 1936. As a senior he was named to the Delaware All-State High School Football Team. He later attended the Tome School in Port Deposit, MD as a post graduate where he was a three sport athlete and was awarded the student of the year. Bob was a 1942 graduate of the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania where he enjoyed being a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. After his schooling, Robert served in the US Navy from 1942-1946 as Command of the USS Halawa, a tanker in Pearl Harbor. He was a Lieutenant.
Bob was a long term member of the Newark United Methodist Church. He was also a member of Post 475 VFW of Newark, DE and the Newark Country Club.
His father was a co-founder of the Newark Country Club where Bob held the honor of being its oldest member. An avid sports fan he spent decades attending University of Delaware football games where he had 4 seats on the 50 yard line. He loved watching football and other sports on TV when he was no longer able to attend. He also loved playing golf and at one time sported a handicap of 7.
Also enjoyed were his many friends, his family, card games, his manhattans and ice cream, and telling old Newark and Navy stories. A special thank you to his terrific caregivers who helped him at the end of his life.
Bob was the owner and operator of R.T. Jones & Son Funeral Home located on Main Street in Newark, DE from 1969-1990. He worked alongside his father, Robert T. Jones, Sr., as a Funeral Director from 1950-1969. Robert T Jones, Sr. started the funeral home in 1903 and it is one of the longest continually running businesses in Newark.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2017 from 7-9pm at R.T. Foard & Jones, Inc., 122 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. A Celebration of Robert’s life will be held on Monday, December 4, 2017 at 11:00 am at the funeral home with a one hour prior visitation. Burial will follow the service at Head of Christiana Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to the “National Down Syndrome Society” and sent in care of the funeral home.