Arthur Jones

The Greatest Generation lost another one this week. And he was a great one, at least to his family and many of his friends. Art Jones, 97, died at 1:55 a.m. May 10 in the National Church Residences complex on University Drive in Chillicothe.
Friends may pay their respects from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Haller Funeral Home and one hour prior to the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Haller's. Military graveside services, conducted by the Ross Co. Veterans Honor Guard, will follow in the Jones plot in Concord Cemetery in Liberty Township where the Jones family first settled in 1803.
Let's start from the beginning. Arthur Lawrence Jones was born June 3, 1923 in Chillicothe as a fourth generation Ross Countian to Edson Frame Jones, a crane operator for the B&O Railroad, and Margaret Jane Carolious, as the last of their seven sons (no daughters). His childhood was spent growing up in the Scioto Avenue-Water Street East End neighborhood where he would live until the late 1970s.
He became an athlete early on in basketball, track and fast-pitch softball. At the end of his junior year at Chillicothe High School in 1942, has was voted by his teammates as co-Most Valuable Player for the Red Devils (later changed to Cavaliers). Coach Earl Young was quoted in the local newspaper: "I am proud of this year's team and can truthfully say that I have enjoyed the past season more than any I can remember."
At the age of 19 and with one year left to graduate, Art instead enlisted in August 1942 in the U.S. Navy as World War II was raging. He would end up serving four years, two months and 29 days before being discharged. In that time, he would serve in Africa, Italy and then in Europe. He participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 in Normandy commanding a landing ship infantry, dropping troops onto the beaches. He would spend 17 days there, including one day when he pulled aboard a soldier struggling in the English Channel. It turned out to be fellow Chillicothean Norman Watson who would become a lifelong friend, of course.
Art got a two-week leave to come home, but then was sent to the Pacific Theater, through the Panama Canal where he would see service on Guam, Saipan and Okinawa. He was assigned to Sasebo in Japan when the war ended. Adding it all up, he earned five Bronze Stars and one Silver Star. He was discharged on Nov. 11, 1946.
On a trip home before his discharge, he started another journey. This time on July 24, 1946 when he married Mary Louise Pine, a soon-to-be 19-year-old from Coalton in Jackson County who had gone to CHS. They celebrated 53 years of marriage before she died Oct. 15, 1999.
So, the seventh son in his family, Art and Mary brought three sons into this world, starting with Lawrence Arthur (married to Ann), Marvin Edson (married to Ruth) and Rodney Lee (married to Carolyn). Larry and Marvin are fifth generation Ross Countians still living here while Rod died last June from cancer in Hendersonville, TN. Art always said Rod was born on Mother's Day, Marvin on New Year's Day and Larry on payday.
Also surviving are grandchildren: Joshua, Katherine and Ashley; and great-grandchildren Willow, Hayden, Braden; and step-grandchildren Emily, Brett and Tess; and step-great-grandchildren Arthur and Theo.
Art supported his family working more than 40 some years at the Chillicothe Paper Company (Chilpaco), rising to tour foreman when he retired in 1985. His co-workers loved to call him "Toot-Toot" when the paper machines broke down and he got them back up and running.
After retiring, Art and Mary took cross-country trips, seeing the sights of this country and visiting with his brother Charlie's wife and children in Nevada and Utah. They also helped raise all three of their grandkids at their home on Roberta Lane. He also attended the funerals of all his brothers: Ralph, Paul, Bob, Carl and Charlie. His brother Clark died as an infant.
About eight years after his wife's death, Art moved to the Glade in the NCR complex off University Drive before moving a few years ago into the Heritage assisted living division. He volunteered in the laundry well into his 80s and he grew his friendships with other veterans there, especially Otto Tuttle, another Navy buddy. Some even referred to Art as the "Mayor of Traditions" because of his infectious personality. Enough can't be said about the family's appreciation and gratitude to everyone at NCR for making him a part of their family.
Art lived a long and rewarding life, taking great pride in his family and his service to his country. His longtime friend from his Bridge Street Church of Christ family, Tom Hull, will officiate the service Saturday at Haller's and at the cemetery.
If you're thinking of sending flowers, Art instead would want friends to donate to National Church Residences or to the Bridge Street Church of Christ. The family would appreciate hearing your stories about Art by logging on to www.hallerfuneralhome.com and leaving your remembrance.
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