Charles Roy Jones

Charles Roy Jones Charles Roy Jones died Tuesday, September 15 due to complications from pancreatitis. He was 79.

Born in Philadelphia, Penn. in 1931 to David Charles Jones and Dorothy Mae Butler Wrigley, he had two brothers, David Charles Jones, Jr. and John Godfrey Jones (all deceased). He was raised in the Philadelphia and Buffalo areas. From an early age - and throughout his life - he enjoyed singing and playing music; his favorite instruments were the clarinet and the saxophone.

Jones entered the U.S. Army and became a pilot upon graduation from Bowling Green State University, where he met his future wife, Marilyn Jane Ross. The two were married in 1953. He served in the Army for more than 20 years, including two tours in Viet Nam, achieving the rank of Lt Colonel before retirement in 1974. Though he flew several different types of aircraft during his career and after, he spent much of his time behind the controls of a Chinook helicopter. He also loved to fly Bell-47s, Caribous and King Airs. The family moved 25 times during their military years, finally settling in Springfield, Va. Additionally, they frequently vacationed at the family's cabin in Gettysburg, Penn., considered a second home by all the Joneses.

Since the early 1970s, Jones and his family has owned and operated the Lamp Factory Outlet and JJ's Hallmark retail stores. Jones gained great pleasure from growing these businesses with his family and friends, and was honored on multiple occasions by his local chambers of commerce and the business community at large.

He was active in two churches, Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church and Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, of which he was a founding member. For several years he taught business management at Northern Virginia Community College and English as a second language to new Americans. He was also a dedicated mentor and civic activist, campaigning for immigration rights, GLBT rights and the right for equality in marriage. A liberal man, Jones was a supporter of democratic candidates and progressive government. His love for animals - and most recently his dog Jaylene - was central in his life.

Jones was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn Jane Jones, in 1994. He remarried in 2000 and is survived by his wife Marilyn "Rosie" Petersen Jones. He is also survived by his four children, Jennifer Jones Glushefski, John Jones, Julie Jones Gregorowicz and Jody Jones as well as sons-in-law, Ed Glushefski and Ed Gregorowicz; daughters-in-law, Gail Yeager Jones and Kathy Grisaffe Jones; step-son Jason MacCabe; 12 grandsons and granddaughters, his brother David's sons and daughters and cousin, Ellen Leslie and her daughters and extended family. To his children and grandchildren he left an exemplary and lasting legacy of love and support that will be treasured forever.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, September 22 at 2 p.m. at Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on January 4, 2011.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Beacon House community ministries (www.beaconhousedc.org), an organization close to Jones' heart.


This obituary was originally published in the News & Messenger (Woodbridge, VA).