Robert “Buck” Jones, 73, of Front Royal, Virginia unexpectedly passed away at his home on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.
Buck was born in 1944 in Manchester, Connecticut, the son of the late Lloyd and Dorothy Jones. During his father’s Army career he lived in Germany and Taiwan and later graduated from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. He went on to earn a BA from Wake Forest University and a MA from Webster University. His 23-year career in the United States Army began in 1967. He served as a platoon leader and Company Commander in Vietnam and went on to hold a variety of command and staff positions, including assignments in Alaska and Germany. He also attended the Command General Staff College and the United States Army War College. Buck concluded his years of duty as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Joint Chiefs of Staff before embarking on a second career in government contracting.
Buck married Brenda Maxwell on September 7, 1974 in Milledgeville, Georgia and had three children. Known to all as a kind, generous, and thoughtful person, this “gentle giant” always kept a sparkle in his eye and laughter in his voice. He had a talent for woodworking, a passion for collecting antique levels, and a love of besting everyone he could at cards. Despite his pledge to spend his retirement focused on “being an embarrassment” to his family, he instead did everyone proud through his dedication to family, friends, and community, leading the Lake Frederick Community Veterans Club for over 10 years and volunteering at Team Grace and the WATTS program at Grace Lutheran Church. To the many for whom he leant a hand or an ear, made laugh or smile, or simply enveloped in warmth, Buck will be truly missed.
Surviving with his wife of 43 years, Cookie, are daughters Carla Jones Soylemez of Mexico City and Rebecca Jones of Portland, Oregon; son, Douglas Allan Jones of Winchester, Virginia; granddaughter, Mina Soylemez of Mexico City; and sister, Wendy Snider of Gloucester, Massachusetts.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 pm to 6 pm on Sunday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Monday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 26 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester, Virginia with Reverend Jonathan Boynton and Reverend Martha Miller Sims officiating.
Memorial contributions in memory of Buck may be made to Special Love, Inc., 117 Youth Development Court, Winchester, Virginia 22602 or to WATTS, P.O. Box 2936, Winchester, Virginia 22604.