Joseph Louis Jones Jr.

Joseph Louis Jones Jr., beloved husband, father and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. He was born February 27, 1923 in Sheppards, Virginia. He was the son of the late Joseph Louis Jones and Edna Elcan Jones of Sheppards, Virginia. Two sisters, Mary H. Jones and Pauline Walker, and a brother, Marcus C. Jones, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy Jeanne Jennings Jones and three children; Joseph L. Jones III married to Nancy Altdoeffer Jones, their two children Joseph L. Jones IV, married to Jeanna, and Andrew Jones and his wife Jen and their daughter Darcy; Daughter Kate Jones Mercer and her two daughters, Dr. Lauren Zinchuk her husband Dr. Andrey Zinchuk and their children Lida and Yuri; Alyson Merrill and her husband Brett Merrill and their children Harper and Phoebe; and Carolyn Jones Borris and her husband Jacques Borris and their daughters Zoe and Mercer. Several nieces and nephews also survive Joseph. Joseph graduated with the class of 1944 with honors from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. He had a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Accounting major. He was a member of the National Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade, as well as the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Joseph was a veteran of World War II. He served in the army from 1943 to 1946. He was in the 33rd infantry division, 180 infantry regiment, and was company commander, company M, rank Captain Infantry. He was awarded a Bronze star for valor and an Infantry Rifleman Badge for combat duty in the Philippines, Island of Luzon. He returned to Virginia Tech to complete his senior year. In 1947 he joined Armstrong World Industries. While in the first year with Armstrong, assigned in Braintree, Mass., he met Dorothy Jeanne Jennings of Texarkana, Texas who was an art student in Boston, Mass. Joseph and Jeanne were married in 1949 in Texarkana, Texas. After numerous assignments with Armstrong, the couple made their home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, living on Eshelman Road for many years and more recently Willow Valley. In 1968 Joseph was elected vice president of Armstrong. In 1983, Joseph was elected chairman, chief operating officer and president. He retired in 1988 from Armstrong after a total of 46 years and continued to serve on the board of directors until 1993. Joseph and Jeanne were charter members of Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, PA. Joseph served as a Deacon, Elder and Trustee. Joseph and Jeanne were also associate members of Moorings Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida. From 1976 to 1992 he served as a director of Carpenter Technology Corporation in Reading, PA. He was a trustee of Lancaster General Hospital and the Lancaster Country Day School. He was a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers. He was a member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lancaster Country Club, the Hamilton Club and the Pelican Bay Club of Naples, Florida. He supported the Boys and Girls club of Lancaster and Naples, and the Founders Club of Naples. In retirement Joseph enjoyed family times in Lancaster, Stone Harbor, New Jersey and winters in Naples. He enjoyed golf, bridge, gardening, and spending time with his family. He lived a long and exemplary life and was a true Virginia gentleman in every sense of the word, a man of moral integrity and filled with good cheer. A service celebrating Joseph’s life with The Rev. Dr. Roger Rabey officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 15, 2016 at Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 East Roseville Road, Lancaster, PA. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery. On behalf of the family we extend our gratitude for your comforting words and prayers - everyone is invited to lunch at the Lancaster Country Club after the service. Desired memorial remembrances may be made to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Dr., P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.