Laska Henry Jones Sr.

Laska was born in a rural area near Orrville, AL, on May 4, 1930. He was the fourth child out of five, having two brothers and two sisters. After eighth grade, he moved to the city of Selma, AL to attend high school at Knox Academy and eventually Selma University High School. He worked various jobs to pay for his expenses and tuition. While delivering orders from Reid's Drugstore to the Mosley family, he met Eva Mosley who became the Love of His Life. He graduated from Selma University High School and could not find a steady job. He applied to join the Army, was accepted, and then was moved to the Air Force. The Love of His Life attended Tuskegee Institute while he trained in the Air Force in San Antonio and Houston, TX and Northern California, and served overseas in the Philippines during the Korean War. He returned to Houston, TX and, when she graduated from Tuskegee Institute in May 1953, they married one month later in Selma. They went to Houston, lived there for a year, and his Military orders assigned him to Enid, OK, where their two sons were born. In 1960 the family moved to Ankara, Turkey. After two and a half years, the family moved to San Bernardino, CA, with Laska carpooling to George Air Force Base in Adelanto, CA for 5 years. While in the Military, Laska completed his Bachelor in General Education degree from the University of Omaha in1966. He then started working on a master’s program, retired from the Military in 1968, and pursued Education full-time, landing teaching assignments in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. After attaining his Master of Administration in Educational Administration from the University of California Riverside in 1974, he became a High School Vice-Principal at Cajon High School in 1976 and was transferred to San Gorgonio High School in 1980 in the same capacity. He helped various students develop discipline and to focus on their possible life after high school. After retiring from the education system in 1990, he helped his wife as she retired two years later. They then expanded their activities and traveled around the country.

Laska and Eva celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner and a large group of friends in attendance on that very night. Eva's health started to decline, and Laska became a full-time caregiver. He helped her every step of the way, as they were together for 69 years. Since her passing in 2014, he regularly visited her gravesite and mentioned her every day. His total commitment to helping her led to his twelve strong years before he finished his journey.

The family joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of San Bernardino, CA, in early 1964. He served in several areas including the Finance Committee, Trustee Department, Pastoral Search Committee, and the Scholarship Committee. Laska was also heavily involved with other activities as his sons grew: he was a Scoutmaster with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorer Scouts and earned several awards; a supportive parent for Little League Baseball; attended music performances, speech contests, and athletic contests. After his sons left home, he joined Kiwanis International and continued collaborating with the Boy Scouts for another 35 years. He also became a committed supporter of the Swans Club that Eva served for 42 years. Scholarships are awarded in the Jones Family name each year at the annual Debutante Ball and at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. He also was a long-time member of local chapters of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and Buyers Investments.

His personal interests included: walking about 2 miles most days until he turned 90; reading his Bible and checking his newspaper daily; getting his mail; watering flowers and plants; and keeping an eye out on the weather. He kept up with business, current events, the arts, men's and women's sports, music concerts, and documentaries through three televisions in his bedroom--two of the televisions had rabbit ears for basic TV stations and were on his left and right sides-- the cable TV was in the middle.

Laska was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Mosley Jones; his parents Johnnie Jones Sr. and Mylie King Jones; his sister Amelia Allen; his brother Johnnie Jones Jr. (Ozell); his brother Nehemiah Jones; his sister Ethel Gore; and a number of nephews and nieces.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his sons Laska Jr. (Ophelia) and Bernard (Yvonne); in-laws Cottrell and Merthene White, and sister-in-law Juel Rushing; brother in-law Rev. Collins Pettaway Sr.; sisters-in-law Gerthadine Mosley and Eunice Mosley Dudley; grandchildren Justin Ridley, Brianna Ridley, Braxton Jones, and JaNyah Jones; and great-grandson Jonah Ridley; nieces Janette Mosley Cunningham, Gloria Jean Jones-Pickens, Regina Gore, Felicia Brown-Tarber, Andrea Brown-Jackson, Renee Hayes, Nia Gore, Shavonne Gore, Kafi Brown, Ashley Pickens, Jessica Jones, and Jalisa Jones ; nephews Glenn Gore, Frederick Gore, Julius Brown, Kevin Brown, Darrell Brown, Robert Jones, Lorenzo Duane Jones, Michael J. Jones, Ralph Watson, Jr., Alfonzo Mosley, Emile Mosley, Jonathan Mosley, Eric Donte Casey, Gordema Gore, Eric Pritchett, Keith Pritchett, Frederick Douglas Gore, Alexander Pickens, and Michael Jones II; and additional third, fourth, and fifth generation nephews and nieces.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Jones Family thanks every friend, acquaintance, and person who has continually prayed for the family over the years. We appreciate: the work of Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary; every member and volunteer of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; the Swans Club; the United States Air Force and Riverside National Cemetery; the San Bernardino City Unified School District; the Boys Scouts of America; the Kiwanis Clubs; the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and the Buford A. Johnson Chapter; Buyers Investments; every attendee to the Visitation and the Celebration of Life; and all cards, flowers, plants, well wishes, thoughts, prayers, and gifts.

Visitation will be held at Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary, Cypress Chapel, 24145 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354, on September 1, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

The Funeral Service will take place at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1575 W 17th St, San Bernardino, CA 92411, US, on September 2, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.

Repast will be held at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1575 W. 17th St, San Bernardino, CA 92411, on September 2, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

The Committal Service will be at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, US, on September 2, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible contributions can be mailed to:

The Swans Club

P.O. Box 7376

San Bernardino, CA 92411

Federal Tax ID: 33-0081061

CA State ID: C2812896

OR:

Via Zelle to [email protected].

The Swans Club website is: theswans1960.com