Rev. Donald B. Jones

Rev. Donald B. Jones was called into the presence of His Savior on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the Cypress Cove Care Center in Crystal River, Florida after a long battle with dementia. He is survived by His beloved wife of 63 years, Kathleen Rigolosi Jones, his loving sister, MaryLou Hamilton, his children, Donald and his wife Julie, Matthew and his wife Diane, His daughter Holly, and Her husband Leif, and his son Tim and his wife Christie.

He has been gloriously reunited with his granddaughter Lauryn and is survived by his grandchildren, Rachel, Wesley, Matthew, Anthony, Dionna, Frankie, Danny, and Paityn as well as his great grandchildren, Waylon, Ellie, and Noah!

Donald Barry Jones was born on April 20, 1939, to Donald Ellsworth Jones and Lillian Close Jones. Along with his older sister, Marylou, they grew up in their home and Suffern, New York! Donald loved scouting, (attaining the rank of Eagle Scout) and sports! During his Highschool years he joined the civil air patrol and worked at Beecraft Photographic studios.

Thru the influence of the Rev Merrit E Webb, Donald received the call to the Ministry at the Methodist Bishops convocation of Christian ministry in November 1956. After graduating Suffern Highschool, he received his bachelor's degree in history, with a minor in psychology, at Tennessee Wesleyan College, and a master's degree in theology at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison.

He married the love of his life, Kathleen Rigolosi, in 1962. Donald became an ordained deacon of the United Methodist Church in 1963 and an ordained elder of the church in 1965. In 1962 He served as pastor of Wesley Chapel Circuit in Suffern, N.Y., Viola UMC, Ladentown UMC, in 1965 He was appointed to Madison Park and Simpson UMC in Paterson, NJ.

In 1969 he became urban pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Wycoff, Nj During that appointment he wrote the proposal for, founded and served as director of Bergen County's narcotics education program He was the co-founder of Mt. Carmel Center for Drug Addiction in Paterson, where he worked closely with the late Monsignor William N. Wall of the Diocese of Paterson, in counseling parents and young people, as well as traveling to schools as one of the pioneers of drug addiction education. With an astounding estimated 80 percent recovery rate, the Mount Carmel Guild became a world model for detoxification and rehabilitation efforts. He did much work with the United States Justice department and the attorney General’s office helping develop the national drug addiction awareness program.

In 1972, He returned to a full-time parish with an appointment to the Pearl River UMC, and in 1977 Trinity UMC in Rahway, Port Jervis UMC in 1989 and Midvale UMC in 1995 until his retirement in June 2001. Since his retirement Donald and his devoted wife, Kathleen have resided in Homosassa, Florida.

Over the years Donald cared about people. He Served as chaplain for police and fire departments, first aid squads in the various communities he served. He advocated for afflicted veterans exposed to agent orange. He worked extensively in the area of geriatrics and was a board member and chaplain for the Rahway geriatrics center and the Methodist homes. He served as a support counselor for the Rahway Hospital hospice and bereavement center. He did relief work for earthquake victims in El Salvador and flood victims in Virginia 1985. He served on the boards of many local organizations and served as chaplain, consultant and counselor for school boards, the Red Cross, and day care centers. Donald cared most about his family and along with his devoted wife, Kathleen, saw his 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and his 3 grandchildren as his greatest love and his greatest accomplishment!

Friends will be received at visitation for Rev. Jones on Tues., Aug. 13, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Macrini-Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, Florida. www.macrini-wilderfuneral.com

A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a funeral service at 7:00pm on Friday, August 16, 2024, at Mountaintop Church located at 6 Naughright Rd in Hackettstown, NJ 07840, under the direction of Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home, Rahway, NJ.

Burial will be private for the family on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Airmont Lutheran Cemetery located at 51a S Airmont Road in Suffern, NY 10901.