Eric Jonas Sr.

1934 - 2021

Eric Jonas, Sr.
December 27, 1934 - June 17, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina - Eric Andrew Jonas, Sr., 86 and a lifelong resident of Charlotte, NC, died peacefully after a brief illness on June 17, 2021. The son of Donald R. Jonas and Annie W. Jonas of Lincolnton and Charlotte, Eric was born December 27, 1934 in Lincolnton, NC.
Eric graduated from Central High School in Charlotte where he played varsity basketball and golf. He competed in state and national golf tournaments including winning the NC CGA Junior Golf Championship in 1952 at age 17. He made lifelong friends at Central High and was an active member of the Central High reunion monthly gatherings.
Eric graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1956 majoring in English, was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, active with the ROTC and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He was a lifelong Tar Heel basketball and football fan.
Following graduation from UNC, Eric served three years as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force with posts first in Texas and then in California as a navigator. He moved to Boston in 1959 to attend Harvard Law School. In Boston he met his wife of 59 years, Darlene Evans Jonas, who was attending graduate school at Boston University. Eric liked to say the chance meeting of Darlene at a Thanksgiving meal gathering was one of the happiest days of his life.
After their marriage in Boston in 1962, Eric and Darlene moved to Charlotte and started their family. Eric worked as an attorney with the Dotson Palmer law firm for several years before joining Weinstein Sturges as a partner where he practiced for over 20 years, and then in private practice until retiring in 2011.
Eric was a life time member of the Central YMCA (now the Dowd Y) since his childhood and an almost daily visitor there as an adult for 50 years. He served on the Y Board and as Board President. Eric was also a 40 year member of the Charlotte North Rotary Club, serving in several leadership roles including Rotary president. Eric was a lifetime blood donor to the Red Cross.
When playing golf took too much time away from the family, Eric took up tennis and played competitively at Barclay Downs and Olde Providence as well as in the Senior Games.
Eric loved being a father to his four children, taking care of his tomato plants along with body surfing at Ocean Isle Beach every summer with his family.
Eric was a member at Myers Park United Methodist Church in his youth, at Mouzon United Methodist when he first returned to Charlotte and for many years active as an elder at Covenant Presbyterian with his family.
Eric never met a stranger and was always quick with a smile of acceptance followed by a series of his favorite jokes and puns. Eric (Dad, Pops, Papa Bear, P-bear) was deeply loved and cherished by his family.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene Jonas, now of Asheville; his children Eric (Rick) Jonas of Asheville; Jim Jonas and his wife Karin Jonas of Wichita, Kansas and their children, Markey Jonas of Wichita and Bennett Jonas of Denver, CO; Don Jonas and his wife Debbie Jonas of Charlotte and their children, Henry Jonas, MaryElizabeth Jonas and Finn Jonas of Charlotte; Annie Jonas and her spouse Stacey Enos and their son, Gabriel Enos of Asheville; his sister, Alice Jonas Fernandez (Dr. Javier Fernandez) of Columbia, SC and their sons, Wyeth Fernandez and Bryce Fernandez of Columbia. He is also survived by Darlene's sister, Claudette Warlick and her children.
A celebration of Eric's life will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC with a date and time to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Dowd Y or the Greater Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross are warmly appreciated. Friends and family are encouraged to add their thoughts and remembrances of Eric and read more about Eric online with the Groce Funeral Home: https://www.grocefuneralhome.com/obits/eric-andrew-jonas-sr/. For questions about the memorial service please email jim.jonas@gmail.com. The online register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.