John Arthur Jones

John Arthur Jones, 92, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2025, surrounded by family. His modest and unassuming nature and his dry sense of humor charmed everyone he met.

John was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 10, 1933, and grew up there, graduating from East Denver High School in 1951. During high school, John worked as a “soda jerk” at the local drug store. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a radarman on the U.S.S. Bairoko, which took part in the Korean War.

He came from a family of Denver firefighters, but after the war he took a different path, moving to California and enrolling in Orange Coast College and later Chapman University, where he graduated in 1957. He began his career in Orange County, working as an architect. In the early 1960s, he moved to San Diego to take a job with the U.S. Department of Defense, in a division responsible for the purchasing of aeronautics. He eventually moved into a managerial role as a contract negotiator, and stayed with the government for over 30 years.

John married his wife Rachel in 1965, and they raised two sons, Jason and Eric, in Rancho Penasquitos. During the 1970s and 80s, John and the boys would escape San Diego for long camping trips across the Western U.S. in their Volkswagen van. He enjoyed gardening and golf, and was always building and fixing things around the house, but he was happiest spending time with his family.

John is survived by his beloved wife and his two sons, who remember him most especially as a patient and caring father. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Pearl Louise Jones; and his sisters, Shirley Cushing and Phyllis Suiter.

A funeral service will be held at El Camino Memorial Park, located at 5600 Carroll Canyon Road in San Diego, on October 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

A visitation will be held at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, located at 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, on October 15, 2025, from 10:30 am to 11:00 am.

The funeral service will follow at the same location on October 15, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A committal service will take place at Miramar National Cemetery, located at 5795 Nobel Dr San Diego, CA 92122 on October 15, 2025, from 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm