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JONES, FRANCIS EDWARD Born December 4, 1919 in Gravette, AR to Walter Hamilton and Maude Pearl Jones. Went home to be with the Lord on February 12, 2012 in San Diego, CA following a long and valiant battle with congestive heart failure. In 1923 he moved to Porterville, CA where he spent the rest of his childhood on the family farm. As a teenager, Mutt as he was known to his family and friends, moved to Honolulu, HI where he lived briefly with his older sister. In 1940 he enlisted in the US Army (later the Army Air Corp) at the Presidio in San Francisco. He attended pilot training as an Air Cadet prior to contracting meningitis. Undeterred, he completed training as a Radar Operator and served as an aircrew member on several bombers. At the outset of World War II he was sent to India where he flew combat missions in support of combat operations in Africa. Later he was assigned to the 40th Bomb Group where he flew myriad mission in the B-29 off the island of Tinian in support of the air war against Japan. He continued to serve in the Air Force in air search and rescue and as a weapons controller in North American Air Defense Command. He completed his 28 years of military service at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer - 4 having served his country through World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War. Following a brief stint as a defense contractor, he moved to San Diego in 1969 where began a banking career, retiring as a Branch Manager in 1981. Frank, as he was called in his banking career, was a Freemason for 56 years, entering as a charter member of the Blue Lodge in Japan. He was a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite of San Diego, CA and a Shriner. The youngest of seven children, Francis is preceded in death by his mother and father, his six siblings, his daughter-in law Peggy Jones and one grandson Jacob Jones. A devoted husband and father, he is survived by his wife of 65 years Elizabeth (Betty) Jones of San Diego, his daughter Karen (Steve) Buddenbohm of Colbert, WA, son Rodney (Pam) Jones of Phoenix, AZ, Richard (Aimee) Jones of Clyde Hill, WA, Mark (Sheryle) Jones of Paradise, CA, Douglas (Kathy) Jones of Colbert, WA, 13 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Special thanks to Lisa Shutt, Director of Nursing and her colleagues at Canyon Villas for their loving and compassionate care of Frank in his final difficult days. His funeral will be held at the Airman Memorial Chapel at MCAS Miramar in San Diego on Tuesday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. with internment to follow at Miramar National Cemetery at noon. Funeral arrangements are through El Cajon-Lakeside-Santee Mortuary and Cremation Mortuary Services, 684 S. Mollison Ave, El Cajon, CA.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on February 17, 2012
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