Charles H. Jones

Charles H. Jones of Hamilton died peacefully at Chesterwood Village in West Chester on Wednesday, November 16 at the age of 92. He was born in Thurman, Ohio, December 17, 1918, the youngest of eight children of Gomer and Mary Ann Jones. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 73 years, Elizabeth (Williams), his five children; Carolyn of Hamilton, Charles R. (Beth Anne) of Bowling Green, OH, Richard of Kettering, Mary Ann Fox (Mike) of Oxford, Bruce (Patty) of West Chester; eleven grand and step-grand children and nine great and step-great grand children; and nine nieces and nephews. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law. During World War II he served in the Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge. He also completed over a year of active duty 1950-51 in the Korean Conflict. In 1971 he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Chief of Staff of the Ohio Army National Guard. In 1973 he became commander of the Ohio Area Command and two years later promoted to Major General. In 1982, the new Charles H. Jones National Guard Armory on Symmes Road was named in his honor, a rare distinction for a living person. In 1992 he was a selection for the Ohio National Guard Hall of Fame. Charles moved his family to Hamilton in 1949. He joined Champion Paper Company and rose to the position of Secretary-Treasurer. In 1970 he formed a law partnership, eventually becoming Baden, Jones, Scheper and Crehan. He has served Hamilton and Butler County in leadership capacities with the Benjamin Franklin Lodge # 719 F&AM, Crippled Children's Society, Rotary Club, United Fund, Ohio Farm Bureau, American Red Cross, American Legion, School Superintendent of the First United Methodist Church, Board of Directors at Fort Hamilton Hospital and at Citizens Bank of Hamilton as well as participation with many other local, worthy organizations. Charlie, as his friends called him, was twice elected State Representative of Butler County from 1957 to 1962, including selection as one of the ten most outstanding Representatives by his fellow legislators. He served four counties as an Ohio Senator from 1963 through 1966. His military decorations and awards include: Silver Star, Bronze Star with V, Meritorious Service medal, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster for twice being wounded as a paratrooper, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass, Presidential Unit Citation and The Distinguished Service medal. Charles H. Jones had a celebrated life as a father, businessman, local statesman and as a dedicated American through devoted civil and military service to Ohio and his country. Funeral services will be held Tuesday November 22, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home 980 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton, OH with Chaplain Daniel R. Burris, LTC officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park. Visitation will be held Tuesday from Noon until the time of services.