Robert Jones Jr.

Robert Jones Jr. was born in the east Texas town of Tyler on May 28, 1925 to Robert and Nellie Jane Arnold Jones. He was the oldest of eight children. He attended grammar schools in Smith County, Texas and Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas. Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II in the summer of 1943. He served in the Pacific, including the battle at Peleliu, from July 1944 to October 1945, and was honorably discharged in November of 1945. After returning from military service, Bob made his home in northern California, where he raised his family. He was employed by Pacific Telephone (AT& T) when, in 1968, he met another Pac Bell employee, Valerie Coe, in the Central Valley California city of Visalia. The two were married a year later and continued to reside there. After thirty-eight years with Pac Bell, Bob retired in 1982. Valerie also retired, and they spent their retirement years together volunteering with various organizations, being active in their church, traveling all over the U.S.A. in their RV, and most enjoyable of all, spending time with the grandchildren. Bob was a member of First Baptist Church (renamed Gateway Church) and later, Visalia Evangelical Free Church, where he served as an usher in each. He was an active member of Gideons International, Jail Ministry, Telephone Pioneers, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bob loved sports, both as an observer and coach, first his children, then later his grandchildren. He was a die-hard follower of the San Francisco Forty-Niners, in their good seasons and their not-so-good seasons. He was always proud of the fact that he was never a “fair weather” fan. “Go Niners” was his favorite greeting during football season. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Nellie Jane Jones, his brother Richard, and his infant son, Joe. He is survived by his wife of forty-five years, Valerie H. Jones, son Richard Jones of Visalia, daughter Beverly Ballard (Dan) of Manteca, CA, son David Jones (Vicki) of Modesto, CA, stepdaughter Lois Norman of Visalia and stepson Robert P Coe Jr. (Tony) of Chicago, IL. In addition, he is survived by siblings Katie Jean Dickey, Hazel Nell Jernigan and Rex Jones, all of Whitehouse, TX, Charline Williams of Bullard TX, Lois Hopkins of Tennessee Colony, TX, and Roberta McCullough of Jacksonville, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Heidi Goodman (Bruce) of Manteca, CA, Heather Alicia (Dean) of Indiana, Adam Jones (Mary Clair) of Oregon, Lee Jones, Jessica Spicer (Andy) of Michigan, Kyle Jones of Modesto, CA, step-grandson, Andy Norman of San Francisco, CA, and numerous great grandchildren. The things for which Bob wanted to be remembered in this life were his love of the Lord, his family, and his country, and how proud he was to have served as a United States Marine. Semper Fi! A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 21, 2015 at Gateway Church, 1100 S. Sowell St, Visalia, CA at 11:00 A.M. Burial following at Visalia District Cemetery, 1300 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA.

Robert Jones Jr.

May 28, 1925 - December 13, 2015