Obituary of Erwin F. Jones

Erwin F. Jones, 93, died on March 23, 2012 at Emeritus of Lakewood (Loyalton). Erwin was born in Jamestown, NewYork, October 27, 1918, son of Emil J. Jones and Elsie Lindholm Jones. Besides his parents, a brother, Elliott L. Jones, a brother Burton E. Jones and a sister, Evelyn M. Wells, are deceased. His wonderful wife of 41 years, Theodora Mills Jones is also deceased. He lived in Jamestown his working life until his retirement in 1985. He attended Jamestown Public Schools. In high school, he was President of the Chi Sigma Chi Fraternity and an honorary member of Braw Caddie Clan. In his young adult life, he was for 15 years a Sales Representative for the Kraft Foods Co. In his mid- life, he was in sales and a buyer for the Field & Wright Co. in Jamestown. Until his retirement in 1985, he was Northeastern, U.S. Regional Sales Manager for 12 states - East of Indiana to the Atlantic Ocean, for the Essex Telecommunication Division of United Technologies Corporation. He was well-known in the telephone industry and was a member of NEAT (North eastern U.S. Telephone Association). He was on the board of NEAT for 11 years. He had a major part in the sale of the telephone system for Saudi Arabia in the late 1970's. He showed the first fiber optics nationally for the Telecommunications Industry. At the time of his retirement he was involved with the sales and distribution nationally of the first cell phone. He was a member of the Road Runners Club (an honorary telecommunications group). He was listed in "Who's Who" in American Industry in the late 1970's. After his retirement in 1985, he moved to Orlando, FL and lived there 12 years before moving to the Las Vegas area. He returned to the Jamestown area in 2011, when he became a resident of Emeritus at Lakewood (Loyalton). As a previous resident of Jamestown, he lived at 184 Pleasant View Avenue, at the corner of Marvin Pkwy. While living in Jamestown, he was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Adelmans Club, a member of the Jamestown Shrine Club, a past Exalted Ruler and life member of Jamestown Elks Lodge # 263, a 46 year member of the The Town Club of Jamestown, a life member of the Vikings, as well as a member of the Jamestown Rotary Club, the Rio Panor and Ventura County Club of Orlando, FL and the Dragon Ridge Country Club of Las Vegas. He was also President of the Jamestown Association of Manufacturer's Representatives and a founding board member of the Cerebral Palsy Center in Jamestown and on their Board for many years. His survivors are a daughter Diane M. Carlson and son-in-law, William Freyd of Henderson, NV and Bemus Point, NY; a son, Daniel E. Jones and daughter-in-law, Glenda Kay of Warrenville, IL; 3 grandchildren (L. Gregg Carlson of Henderson, NV, Bradley S. Carlson of New Market, MD, and Stephanie M. Carlson, of St. Paul, MN) and 10 great grandchildren. Other family members important to Erwin include: E. Bradley Jones of Dewittville, NY, Bruce L. Jones of Bratenahl, OH/Dewittville, NY, James Wells of Fairfield, NY, Kathy Jones of San Pablo, CA, and Carolyn Cammack of Las Vegas. Two special people in Erwin's life include: Martha L. Thomas of Westfield, NY/Orlando, FL (deceased) and Donna M. Courson of Jamestown, NY/ Phoenix, AZ. A memorial service will be held at Lind Funeral Home, Jamestown, on Saturday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Onyahsa, YMCA, 101 East 4th Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 for the Erwin F. Jones Memorial Fund. You may light a candle in remembrance of Erwin at www.lindfuneralhome.com