William Fred Jones

Mr. William Fred Jones, age 92, died on November 22, 2013. He was born July 8, 1921 in Newark, New Jersey. He was the son of G. Fred Jones and Edna Irene Davis Jones. He had a sister, Marjorie Louise Jones Kohan who predeceased him.

An army veteran of World War II, Mr. Jones served as a meteorologist with the 109th gun battalion mobile antiaircraft and was part of the D Day invasion, earning five battle stars and the good conduct and soldier’s medals. For a time he remained in Europe to study at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

He was the Executive in charge of Government and Industry Affairs for the Royal Sun Alliance Companies and was a member of the legal department and served as an Insurance Industry lobbyist in Washington DC and various state capitals. While working in the industry, he received many honors. He was chairman of the American Insurance Association Southwest Committee and received a commendation from the New York State Legislature for his work and contribution to the State of New York.

His life work was very satisfying to him. He was instrumental in getting the seat belt law passed and worked in the area of Workers’ Compensation, eradicating toxic waste and alerted companies to the dangers of black lung disease and the hazards of asbestos.

He appeared in debates on news television programs in Akron, Ohio and New York City.

Mr. Jones graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY with a degree in political science. While there, he played lacrosse, obtained an air pilots license and was president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated from the Albany Law School in 1948 and was admitted to the bar in both Ohio and New York. He also served as an adjunct professor of Law at the College of Insurance in New York City.

Mr. Jones was an active churchman. He was a member of the Franklin, NY United Methodist Church, attended Aldrich Church in North Franklin and most recently has attended St. James Church in Oneonta, after becoming a resident of St. James Retirement Community.

William was a golfer. While living and working in Charlotte, NC he was a member of the Pine Lake Country Club and the Myers Park Country Club. He was a member of the Tar Heel Seniors golf group of North Carolina. He was also a hiker and backpacker and was an “End to Ender” hiking the Long Trail in Vermont.

He was a great traveler and while most was work related, vacation trips with wife, Gwen were most enjoyed. The trips included the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, China, Thailand and other Asian countries and revisiting his times in Paris.

On July 27, 1946, William married Gwendolyn A. Glenwood in the Tannersville, NY Methodist Church. Officiating was the Rev. John B. Glenwood, father of the bride. Gwendolyn survives him. Other members of the family: daughter, Jacqueline Jones Stahlmann and husband, Scott of Ramsey, NJ and their daughter, Jane Stahlmann of W. Milford, NJ; son, Mark William Jones of Mahopac, NY and his wife, Teresa and their son, Christopher Jones of Harrisburg, PA and their daughter, Kaitlin, a student in Albany Law School.

Other survivors are a niece, Susan J. Koban, Esq. of Hunter, NY and her husband, Vincent Amoia; a cousin, Ruth Ann Davis Phoebus and her husband, Bryan of Florida; beloved sister-in-law, Faith Black Wynne of Franklin and her daughter, Rev. Betsy Ott and her husband, Gary Ott and her family of Stamford, CT and Faith’s son, Gregory Black and wife, Fran of Evansville, IN and their family. There is a large extended family of nieces and nephews that are left to mourn him.

William was proud of his Davis Family heritage in Bloomfield, NJ, his hometown. The Davis family was active during the American Revolution and gave land for the Village Green for the use of the army under George Washington.

William was a member of the American Legion Post #259 in Oneonta.

To be truly commended are all levels of staff connected with the Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center where he has spent the last few months. Thanks also to so many caring friends.

A Requiem Mass will be offered at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 in St. James Episcopal Church on the corner of Main and Elm Streets in Oneonta with Rev. Kenneth Hunter, Rector, officiating. Interment will be in the Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.

There will be no calling hours.

Memorial contributions in William’s memory may be made to St. James Episcopal Church Feeding Ministry, 305 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 of the St. James Manor Activities Fund, 9 St. James Place, Oneonta, NY 13820.