Dr. George Fenwick Jones

Dr. George Fenwick Jones - MARYLAND - Dr. George Fenwick Jones, Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland, died Thursday October 28, 2010 in his sleep. He was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1916, the youngest of six children and the last surviving. He was most proud of being an Eagle Scout, a United States Marine, and a Rhodes Scholar. After graduating from Emory University, he pursued his studies as a Rhodes scholar at Merton College, Oxford University, and the University of Heidelberg. Entering the U.S.M.C. in 1940 as a second lieutenant, he volunteered for training in the first group of marine paratroopers. Following this service, he transferred to a Japanese language training group and later served in intelligence in that area. He participated in actions at Guadalcanal, Vella la Vella, Bougainvilles, and Okinawa. Returning to civilian life after World War II, he taught German literature at Columbia University, Princeton University, and the University of Maryland. While at Princeton, he was a reservist commander of the 155th Howitzer Batallion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a member of the Medieval Academy of America, the American Antiquarian Society, the Society of the Cincinnati, the Cosmos Club, and the Society of Colonial Wars. His Savannah ancestors included Noble Jones, James Habersham, John Berrien, Thomas Gibbons, and Peter Meldrim. His honors include the Cross of Honor for the Arts and Literature from the government of Austria and the Cross of Merit from the government of Germany. Author of over twenty-three books, he is well-known by specialists in medieval German as well as for German influences in early American colonization. He wrote extensively on the Salzburgers of Ebenezer, Georgia. His hobbies were sailing, fishing, and tennis. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Jones, his son, Andrew Berrien Jones, and his grandchildren, George Habersham Gealy and Mary Edgeworth Grealy. Savannah Morning News November 14, 2010 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannnahnow.com/obituaries .