of Memphis, TN
December 20, 2014
JULIUS WELDON JONES, 93, Retired USMC
Beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend to all, Julius passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones, Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Born in Easley, SC, June 1, 1921, Julius enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942. He served in three wars with tours that included the WWII invasion and capture of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He served in the Korean War at Pohang and was awarded the Bronze Star with combat ''V'' during the campaign. He returned to Korea for a second tour aboard the USS Saipan.
He served with Marine Aircraft Group 11 in Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, the Philippines and the States until his unit was deployed to Vietnam.
After multiple US and WESTPAC tours of duty he returned to the States and was assigned to MATSG-90. There he initiated correspondence to the Commandant that resulted in the establishment of a Staff NCO club. He was also instrumental in the conception, development and implementation of the Avionics Repairman
Course at NATTC.
MGySgt Julius Jones retired from active duty in 1974. He worked with Methodist Hospital as Maintenance Supervisor for five years and was later employed by Charter Lakeside Hospital as engineer and member of the hospital management team until his retirement at age 65.
After his second retirement Julius pursued his passion for woodworking, creating beautiful heirloom pieces for friends and family. He and his wife also enjoyed traveling across the US for annual reunions with the Atsugi MAG 11 group. Julius continued to live in Memphis with his wife Emiko who was the light of his life.
Julius is survived by Emiko, his wife of 56 years: as well as daughter Deborah Susan Jones (David), daughter Patricia Lynn Jones (Bill), son Thomas Randolph Jones (Krissy), grandson Ryan Jones (Sarah), brother James D. Jones, son Julius Weldon Jones, Jr., and daughter Jude Garrett and their families.
''Every person would like to think that their time on earth was spent making a worthwhile contribution to society and the welfare of mankind.'' Julius did that and much more. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Semper Fidelis.
The memorial service will take place at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Forest Hill-Irene Road, Tuesday, December 30 at 11:00 am. The family requests that in lieu of flowers please make donations to Methodist Hospice Foundation, PO Box 42048, Memphis TN, 38174 or The Fisher House Foundation at 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168, https://www.fisherhouse.org.
There are so many lives that Top Jones touched including my own. I served with him at Millington from 1970-1973 and then saw him again during a couple of the Marine Corps Balls in the early 1980s. He was a top-notch Marine and human being as well as a mentor and outstanding example to his subordinates. He will not be forgotten. Semper Fidelis, MSgt Gene Hays, USMC Retired.
We are sorry for your loss. My dad, Patrick McIntyre, was an instructor at NAS with Julius Jones. He remembers him well as a good friend and a wonderful person. He was saddened to hear of his passing and regretted that Julius lived here in Memphis and they didn't know how close they lived. He loss track of his where abouts and said he wished he had known Julius lived so close. Dad said he would miss his friend. Dad would have attended the funeral but Dad is recovering at rehab from a broken hip. Please accept our condolences for your loss.