GENEVA W. JONES (April 6, 1923 May 30, 2014) Geneva was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was predeceased by her late husband, Elden D. Jones. Survived by her daughter Bernie Underwood and husband, Gary; and her son, Gary Jones and wife, Cindy; grandchildren Amy Underwood, Zach Underwood and wife, Mary; and six great grandchildren. Many travels were enjoyed by Geneva and Elden. Her home was decorated with treasurers from these adventures. She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Dibblers Garden Club. Geneva was employed by the Riverside Community Hospital as an EEG technician for many years. She was also a Pink Lady volunteer for over 20 years. Graveside services will be Friday, June 6, 11:30 am, at the Riverside National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the charity of your choice.
GENEVA BERNICE JONES
(April 6, 1923 – May 30, 2014)
Eulogy given by
Gary Underwood
Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside California
June 6th, 2014 at 11:45 am
To know, to understand, and to appreciate Geneva, “Grandma Neva” as my children called her, you needed to have visited her in her home.
Upon entering, you would always find “her treasures” careful placed around the home. It was a like a travel adventure … beautiful items from all over the world … Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, just to name few. She loved beautiful jewelry and would often find a special something at an estate sale. Her hair and dress were immaculate … in short, she was a beautiful woman!
Geneva Bernice Wantink was born in Bethany Oklahoma on April 6, 1923, to Harry Wantink and Elizabeth Brugger. Harry’s real name was Hein Wentink, but he “Americanized” his name when he came to America as a teenager. Harry was born in Zelhem, Holland, and worked on ships and traversed the Atlantic Ocean numerous times before settling in the United States. He was a plumber by trade and also a copper smith.
Geneva’s mother, Elizabeth Brugger, was born in Basel, Switzerland. She immigrated to the United States in May 1911, at age 20, with her cousin. Like her daughter Geneva, Elizabeth was also very attractive woman.
When Geneva was born in 1923, she joined a family of two older siblings, Virginia Elizabeth Wantink, age 9, and Henry Chester Wantink, age 7. Their lovely family home was about one block from the Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. At age 8, Geneva’s mother, Elizabeth, died a tragic death leaving her three children and husband.
The older children left the family to live with friends, leaving Geneva with her father who would later marry Hannah Baron, a divorced war bride from Koblenz, Germany, who came to the marriage with a son, Mike. Geneva wasn’t very fond of her step-brother, Mike, who would often steal the frosting from Geneva’s dessert plate. You see, Geneva would save the cake frosting for the last few bites and Mike would snatch it.
Every evening, Hannah would pick out clothes for Geneva to wear the next day. Hannah always made sure Geneva was dressed nicely. Geneva was a good student and played the bells and symbols in the band. In addition, she was a high school majorette. After high school, Geneva worked as an elevator operator. We actually think that Elden first met Geneva riding the elevator which he repeatedly rode.
In November of 1941, Elden Daniels Jones, Geneva’s future husband, was transferred from Fort Douglas, Utah, to Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City. Geneva met Elden at a cotillion dance in January of 1942. Their first meeting was a bit rocky, since Geneva informed Elden that she didn’t dance with men who had “booze” on their breath.
The couple eventually dated for three months and then Elden left for the Air Corps Officer Candidate School where he graduated on June 24, 1942. After graduation, he hurried back to Oklahoma to marry Geneva on June 28, 1942, in the living room of her home.
Their first military assignment was in Avon Park, Florida. Elden said, “This was wonderful experience, beautiful city, and an apartment on the shores of Lake Lotilla … a great assignment for newlyweds.”
In December 1942, they were transferred to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. His squadron was preparing for an early 1943 overseas deployment. In April 1943, they were informed that Elden would be leaving in early May, so Geneva had to choose whether to spend the remainder of the war with Elden’s family or her parents in Oklahoma.
She choose Elden’s parents [Walter Davis Jones & Estella Daniels Jones] in Long Beach, California. When Elden’s parents and their daughter, Bettye [Bettye Lanae Jones], first met Geneva at the train station, they all remarked, “How did Elden find such a beautiful bride?” They all lived in a two bedroom apartment on Pacific Ave and in December there was new baby. Geneva’s daughter, Bernie [Bernice Jean Jones], was born in Long Beach on December 8th, 1943. Little did Elden and Geneva know it would be 31 months before they would see each other again. Bernie was about 23 months old when she met her father.
In Long Beach, Geneva would often accompany Elden’s sister, Bettye, and her boyfriend on dates. Bettye and Geneva became good pals. Bettye remembers that Geneva loved to tell off-color jokes. Throughout her life, Geneva loved the beach and often wished she had a home near the ocean.
Elden’s first assignment when he came home from Italy was Tupelo, Mississippi, which was not very exciting for Geneva. Bernie remembers she had a wasp nest in her bedroom and that there was a pond nearby with snakes.
In May of 1949, Elden was transferred to March AFB. Geneva and Elden literally flipped coin to decide whether or not to drive to Long Beach. Geneva was nine months pregnant with Gary. With each stop at a motel, they would look in the Yellow Pages for an OB doctor. Grandma Jones [Estella Daniels Jones], Elden’s mother, accompanied them on the trip and carried a box of supplies in the event she had to deliver the baby.
They arrived in Long Beach on May 8th and Gary Jones [Gary Elden Jones] was born on May 9th, 1949 at the Long Beach Naval Hospital, California … great timing!
Elden was assigned to March AFB, California, and the family of four lived in an apartment on Magnolia Ave in the Arlington area of Riverside. Geneva and kids would often go the Officer’s Club pool and meet Elden for lunch. In July of 1950, Geneva and the kids were swimming at the Officer’s Club pool when Elden arrived and announced that he was leaving for Okinawa at 8 o’clock that night. He was gone for four months during the Korean War.
In about 1952, the family moved to Via San Jose Street in Riverside, where the family would remain for years. Geneva was ecstatic about their first home. She loved working in the yard and decorating her home. The neighborhood was full of Air Force families and this is where she would meet her life-long friend, Reba Lewis. Geneva and Bernie would often visit “Reba Dell” and her daughter, Judy, after dinner to see if she had any dessert … Reba always did! Many evening were spent on Reba Dell’s patio socializing.
In January 1955, the family would board the ship, USS Geiger, for Bremerhaven, Germany, for an assignment to Wiesbaden, Germany. The voyage was nine days of “rocking and rolling.” After the second day, Geneva got sick when she went down to the hot, steamy windowless laundry room. She vowed to never to return to the United States until they built a bridge or they flew her home.
They initially lived in Frankfurt for three months waiting for housing. On one occasion, Gary cut his finger on a barbwire fence and Geneva had to take him on the bus to the dispensary. After about 18 months, Grandma Jones and Geneva’s sister, Virginia, came to visit and tour Europe for three weeks. Grandma Jones actually stayed for 18 months … big surprise! Geneva decided to go to work and was a secretary for the OSI.
In Europe, Elden and Geneva and the kids were able to travel extensively and visit with Geneva’s grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins in Holland and Switzerland. Geneva drove a 1953 Cadillac that Elden had shipped over to Europe. She was often stopped by the German police to see who this “blonde movie star” was. While there, they visited Air Force friends in Madrid, Rome, Paris, Berlin, and London.
Finally, Gary went on a “sit down strike” and refused to tour any more cathedrals because they were all the same … dark, cold, with colored windows.
Upon returning in October of 1957, they returned to their home on Via San Jose Street in Riverside, California. Bernie remembers that it rained a lot and that it was cold. Elden and Geneva got busy redecorating their home.
Geneva was a stay at home mom until Bernie was in high school. She worked at the Harris Company and then for the Riverside School District. In 1968, they moved into a larger home on the corner of 14th and Isabella Street. Geneva told Elden that Bernie and her family would not be able to visit and stay with them in their small home on Via San Jose Street. Elden was more concerned about the TV reception and watching the Los Angeles Rams. He actually tested the TV reception before he agreed to move.
Geneva began working for the Riverside Medical Lab where she was a receptionist. Later, she trained as an EEG technician. Geneva always enjoyed working in the medical field and encouraged Bernie to do the same. She was a volunteer at the Riverside Community Hospital for over 20 years. Both Elden and Geneva valued education. Gary often said that if it wasn’t for his mom and dad, he would not have finished college.
Geneva wasn’t without her opinions. When Bernie announced that she was going to get married and that her fiancé, Gary Underwood, was majoring in English, Geneva said, “What’s he going to be, an educated idiot?”
After Elden retired in 1964 from the Air Force, they spent the following 3 months in Europe touring around in their new Fiat Spyder.
At home, she loved to garden and work in her yard and grew various varieties of flowers and enjoyed being a member of the Dibblers’ Garden Club. She had many fruit trees and a prized Reed avocado tree. She was always good about sharing her fruit.
She liked to dance, took clogging and line dancing lessons and belonged to a local gym. Music and dancing were an important part of her life. She also loved to play the organ and took lessons. Elden and Geneva loved the theater and would attend various, local productions. Bernie joined her several times for plays and lunch in Los Angeles.
Both Elden and Geneva were especially good about visiting their family. Gary and Bernie remember their frequent trips to San Diego and Long Beach to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Geneva also had a brother [Henry Chester Wantink] and family in Sepulveda that they visited.
As a little girl, Geneva had a pit bull named Max. She also took care of and milked the family goats. Geneva always loved her pets … let see … there was Kadena, Schatzie, Madchen, Heidi, Punky, Snow Ball, Casper, and Princess. Once I [Gary Underwood] accused Geneva of liking her pets more than her grandchildren to which she replied, “I do!”
Grandma Neva had lots of “Okie” sayings … some very funny, but probably best not to repeat.
Geneva loved adventure … once Ada Crilly, another very close friend, and Geneva went on a bicycle “leaf peeking” trip and pedaled around the narrow roads of Vermont. Geneva had her “leathers” and sometimes rode on the back of Elden’s BMW motorcycle, traveling with Elden’s motorcycle group called the Fig Plukers.
About seven years ago, we were expecting Elden and Geneva for Sunday dinner. Elden called Bernie and said, “Geneva was sitting on the floor and was talking “gibberish.” Elden didn’t know what to do because he was in the early stages of dementia. Bernie called “911” and then alerted her brother, Gary. This was the beginning of a long journey of decline. This stroke robbed her of her short-term memory and some right-side weakness.
Fortunately, Bernie and Gary were able to keep Geneva in her home with 24-hour caregivers until this past January. Geneva frequently visited Riverside’s Janet Goeske Center to participant in activities and stay for lunch. Geneva loved to listen to the Senior Center band. And if she knew the song, she would sing loudly, much to the chagrin of the other seniors who often told her to “shut up” … but that didn’t stop her. Deana, one of Geneva’s caregivers, jokingly complained that Geneva always beat her in “Mexican Train” dominoes.
Despite her declining health, Geneva had monthly hair and nail appointments. Sometimes, Deana would take her to parades, the mall, and other community activities. Bernie would always include Geneva and her caregivers for special occasion, family dinners. Her favorite meal was steak and All American Chocolate Cake from Costco. Geneva never met a chocolate treat she didn’t like. In fact, she told Bernie that her main snack when she pregnant with her was chocolate covered peanut clusters.
Although, Geneva was a convert member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this was not an important part of her life. When her home or visiting teachers came to her, she always invited them in for a visit and was polite and courteous. She loved to attend Gary Underwood and Bernie’s ward (church) parties. After her stroke, we were always a little nervous because she no longer had any filters as to what she was going to say … usually it was pretty funny.
Geneva is survived by her daughter, Bernie Underwood and her husband, Gary, and her son, Gary Jones, and his wife, Cindy; two grandchildren, Amy Underwood and her children, Malia, Carissa, and Dallin Mikolajcik, and Zachary Underwood and his wife, Mary, and their children, Sarah, Leah, and Grant Underwood.
Today, I would like to conclude by saying today’s farewell and separations are Geneva and Elden’s reunion and homecoming. We can be assured there is much rejoicing.
To Gary Jones and Bernie Underwood, let me say that no one could have loved their mother more or taken better care of her. I know Grandpa Elden is pleased with his children.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Note: The closing prayer was given by Amy Christine Underwood, Geneva’s only granddaughter. Following the Eulogy and Prayer at the Riverside National Cemetery, family and friends gathered at one of Elden and Geneva’s favorite restaurants, Creola’s, for a light lunch and socializing.)
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