Charles “Chuck” K. Jones Jr.
Charles “Chuck” K. Jones Jr., 85, of Tavares, Fla., passed away Jan. 25 from complications following surgery.
Chuck was born Oct. 2, 1931, in Mifflin Township, Pa., to Charles K. Jones and Sarah Bryce. He was raised in Munhall, Pa., until eighth grade when his family moved to a farm near Portersville, where he learned to farm with a team of horses. Those years held a special place in his heart.
He married Doris Myers in 1952, and together they had six children, Vicki (Brad) Miller, Cindy (Dickie) Singletary, Kathy (Frank) Luek, Charles (Cindy) Jones III, Dwight (Janet) Jones and David (Alex Knisely) Jones; and eight grandchildren, Meg and Bradley Miller, Trey and Anne Singletary, Kendra Hatipoglu and Jenna Luek and Dillon and Garret Jones; and one great-grandchild, Eda Hatipoglu.
Chuck began his career working on the firing kilns at Lava Crucible in Zelienople and advanced to plant manager. During that time, he obtained his degree in industrial engineering from Geneva College. Twenty-six years later, he moved on to Zelienople as the borough secretary from 1972 until his retirement in 1996.
Following the death of his wife, he married longtime family friend, Jo Shields, in 1990, and expanded his family to include her four children, Debbie Shields, Beth Christensen, Scott Shields and Matthew Shields; and grandchildren, Torbjorn and Katia Thomsen and Jon and Kristen Shields.
Chuck enjoyed cruising, having been on 36 cruises on both sailing ships and luxury liners. After the death of Jo, he met Bonnie Howell on a Caribbean cruise, and they were married May 6, 2000, where he welcomed her son, Chad (Yayoi) Howell into his family, followed by grandson, Hayden Howell.
Chuck and Bonnie spent winters in Clearwater, Fla., and summers in Williston, N.D. He enjoyed life on the northern plains, avidly soaking up the history and lifestyle of an area that was new to him. He enjoyed the farmers and ranchers he met there and was very interested in the booming North Dakota oil business. He spent several summers as a volunteer at Fort Union Trading Post, a National Historic Site, on the North Dakota and Montana border, where he made many lasting friendships.
In 2013 he and Bonnie ceased being snowbirds and settled in Tavares, Fla., to be near their son, Chad and his family.
Throughout the years, Chuck had the following affiliations: Boy Scout leader, volunteer fireman with Zelienople Fire Department, elder and deacon at Calvin Presbyterian Church of Harmony, elected board member of Zelienople Borough Council, president of the Pennsylvania Association of State Borough Secretaries, and member of Harmony Lodge Masonic Order for 57 years, Shriners International-Syria Temple, Pa., and St. Philip Lutheran Church in Mount Dora, Fla.
He was most interested in his ancestry and proud of his Scottish heritage.
Additional survivors include his sister, Lois Knauf; his brother, Allan Jones; and many nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; two wives; his brother, Duane Jones; his brother-in-law, Arthur Knauf; and his grandson, Matthew Singletary.
JONES — A memorial service for Charles “Chuck” K. Jones Jr., who died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, will be Friday at St. Philip Lutheran Church, Mt. Dora, Fla.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Zelienople Fire Department, Shriners' Hospital or the charity of your choice.
