Fred was born to Harold and Rita Jones in Boston, Ma. on July 17, 1922. He had one sister, Elinor Jones Clapp, now deceased.
Fred grew up in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, where his father was President of the United Sugar Company. He was educated in boarding schools and graduated from Deerfield Academy and from there he went on to Amherst College where he was known as "Mex". The war interrupted Fred's education and he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a flying instructor and then a Commander of a B29 in Roswell, NM. During the final weeks of the war he met Mary Shaffner who was working on the air base. After just six weeks they married and remained happily married for more than 65 years. After the war Fred obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University.
Fred followed in his father's footsteps joining the sugar company in 1947. Raised by New Englanders Fred maintained their stoic quiet strength and characteristic work ethic his entire life. He was scrupulously honest and lived by traditional values. He firmly believed it was his duty to not only provide for his family but to create jobs for others. Fred and Mary lived in Mexico until 1960 when the sugar company was sold. He spent the rest of his career as a business entrepreneur in Fresno trying several endeavors which eventually led to owning and operating more than 40 Martinizing and Regency Dry Cleaning stores throughout Central California and Arizona.
Fred participated in the sport he loved, playing golf, with his kids and friends, until his last year of life. Fred had been a member of the San Joaquin Country Club since 1963. He also enjoyed reading, bridge, and travel. As a lifetime bird watcher he particularly liked to travel on nature oriented cruises to places like Antarctica (three times!), the North Pole, Alaska, down the Amazon River, Galapagos, China for 30 days, and other remote destinations including Tristan de Cunha, "the Most Remotest Island in the World".
Fred was a member of the North Fresno Exchange Club; Past President of the CA-NV District Exchange Club; and long time member of the California Dry Cleaners Association. Along with good friend Dan Landon, he also established and was past-president of the Ca. Martinizing Plant Owners Association.
Fred is survived by his wife Mary; their five children, Melinda Brooke and her husband Paul, Eric Jones and his wife Kerstin, Andy Jones and his wife Kathy, Tom Jones and his wife Carole and Gail Lohmann and her husband Bill; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Congregational Church, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd. in Fresno on Friday, September 2, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred's name to his favorite charities, The Salvation Army or the Smile Train.
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