Peter Perry Jones, Jr.

PETER PERRY JONES Peter Perry Jones, Jr., 83, a former Regional Director with Piedmont Airlines and one of its first employees, passed away June 14, 2010 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was born in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania on September 27, 1926 to the late Peter P., Sr. and Amelia Caruthers Jones. Mr. Jones was a former Army Air Corp aviation mechanic, having served during World War II with the 9th Air Force. He entered the Army Air Corp in 1944, and upon his discharge and after attending Central Radio School, joined Piedmont Airlines in 1948. He was one of the first employees hired by Piedmont and was in Cincinnati, Ohio to greet the inaugural Piedmont Airlines flight from Wilmington, NC to Cincinnati on February 20, 1948. In 1950 Mr. Jones married June Phyllis Hughes of Scranton, Pennsylvania and they settled in Wilmington, NC. He progressed through the ranks of Piedmont, serving as the Wilmington Station Manager from 1949-1956 and Regional Director of Stations at his retirement. To his children, family and friends he was a symbol of all the qualities that made Piedmont Airlines the great company that it was. He retired from Piedmont in 1989 after 42 years of service. His passion was Piedmont Airlines aviation, but he was also an avid golfer and loved working in his yard. His best buddy was his great-nephew Hunter Hughes with whom he shared a love of airplanes. Mr. Jones was an active member of Fifth Avenue Methodist Church in Wilmington for more than 50 years. He is survived by his daughter Kim Jones of Charlotte, NC, and his sons Blake Jones of Gastonia, NC and Kevin Jones and his wife Kristi of Garner, NC; four grandchildren Kevin Jones Jr., Kyle Jones, Daniel Weeks and Dana Weeks; brother-in-law, Glenn Hughes and his wife Billie of Wrightsville Beach, NC; sister-in-law, Barbara Hughes DiMarco of Stuart, Florida; brother-in-law Charles Matiska of Kingston, Pennsylvania and all his nieces and nephews in North Carolina, Oregon, Florida and Pennsylvania. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife June Hughes Jones in 1992 and his son Darin Jones in 1998. Peter and June were married for 42 years. Visitation with the family will be held at Andrews Mortuary, 1617 Market St. Wilmington, NC on Wednesday, June 16, 2010, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Memorial contributions can be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.