Mary Elizabeth Jonas

Jonas, Mary Elizabeth McGown, 97, died November 20, 2017. Born in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, on May 1, 1920, to Jesse Lawrence McGown and Josephine Hudnall McGown, Mary Elizabeth was the widow of Colonel Gordon E. Jonas, USAF, (Ret.) her adoring husband of 52 years. Mary Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky, and did graduate work in early childhood education at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. She accompanied her husband to assignments in France, Morocco, and throughout the United States during their nearly 30 years of service. She taught in Fairfax County and in Chesterfield County where she was a lead teacher in the Pilot Kindergarten Program, Head Start, and Title I programs. Since 1964, Mary Elizabeth had been a member the Bellwood Woman’s Club, formerly the Bellwood Officer’s Wives Club. She was also a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Colonial Dames XVII Century Richmond Chapter, the James River Woman’s Club, a charter member of the Chesterfield Historical Society, and a member of both Second Presbyterian Church and Bon Air Christian Church. She was pre-deceased by her parents and brothers Arthur McGown, Harold McGown, and James McGown; her husband Colonel Gordon E. Jonas, USAF (Ret.); son Gordon Keith Jonas; and granddaughter Ann Randolph Jonas. Mary Elizabeth is survived by her son Dr. Richard Kirk Jonas and daughter-in-law, Evelyn Anne Jonas; daughter, Elizabeth Jonas Richardson and son-in law, Roger David Richardson; and daughter-in-law Shirley Ann Ostrander Jonas, all of Richmond, Virginia. She is survived by one grandson, Kevin Craig Jonas and his wife Blair Boone Jonas, of Richmond; five granddaughters: Wendy Jonas Imura and her husband Yusuke Imura of Edgewood, New Jersey; Kimberly Jonas Shumadine of Richmond; Dr. Mary Cabell Jonas-Lazerow and her husband Robert Nathan Lazerow of Bethesda, Maryland; Dr. Lauren Christine Richardson of Alexandria, Virginia; Erin Elizabeth Richardson of Richmond; and Mary Ryan Richardson Krieger and her husband Captain William Frederick Krieger, USMC of Port Royal, South Carolina; and six great-grandchildren: Autumn Grace Jonas, Taiga Alex Imura, Raigo Jonas Imura, John Miles Shumadine, Jr., Randolph Cabell Shumadine, and Charlie Gordon Jonas. She is survived also by dear friends Dr. Barry Kurzer and Dr. Lisa Syrop, Jacob Kurzer, Rita and John Boykin, Todd Boykin, Jenny Boykin Roe, and many, many other loyal friends. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday November 27, 2017 at Bon Air Christian Church in Bon Air, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, Mary Elizabeth asked that memorial gifts be made to The Gordon Keith Jonas Memorial Fund at Chesterfield County Schools, Chesterfield, VA, 23831, or the Ann Randolph Jonas Memorial Fund, Trinity Episcopal School, Richmond, VA.