THOMAS M. JONES
Feb. 14, 1928-Feb. 1, 2014
Thomas Marion Jones died Feb. 1, 2014, 13 days short of his 86th birthday, a day he was so looking forward to.
He was born in Hazelton, Pa., Feb. 14, 1928, to William L. Jones Sr. and Marion Pauline Thomas Jones. He was the third of four boys.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Billy Jones Jr., Robert Jones and Richard Jones.
His dad traveled up and down the east coast with his wife and boys in tow looking for work during the depression. His mom died when he was 12, and he had to work all sorts of jobs early in life to help his grandparents support the family.
Tom followed his brothers and joined the United States Navy, serving on the USS Missouri.
After receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, he joined his dad and stepmom in Goldsboro.
He worked different lineman jobs for several power companies.
He met Bernice A. Anderson, and after a six-week courtship, they were married.
Once married, he began his longtime employment with AT&T/Bellsouth. He started in Goldsboro, but moved to Mount Olive in 1956, and became "The Telephone Man" until his retirement after 33 years for a company he loved.
He was a member of Mount Olive First Baptist Church.
After retirement, he and his wife traveled all over the United States in their motor home, and made new friends along the way.
They found their favorite place in Fancy Gap, Va. They spent six months each year with friends, enjoying cookouts, travel and fellowship. He was known for figuring "IT" out and fixing "IT" for his family and friends. To his friends, he was Tom, to his wife, he was Tommy, to his children, he was daddy and to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was Pop-Pop.
A service to celebrate his life will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home, with the Rev. Tony McLamb officiating.
Family members will greet friends following the service at the funeral home.
A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Wayne Memorial Park.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bernice A. Jones; his daughter and son-in-law, Marion J. and Olin Hill; his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas "Keith" and Lovey Andrews Jones; his grandchildren, Magen H. and Les Pike and Thad G. Hill; his much-loved great-grandchildren, Gavin and Nolan Pike; and not to forget his special companion and best buddy, B.J.
In addition to flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Cures For The Colors, 203 Cox Blvd., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 4, 2014 1:49 PM