Kenneth Robert Jones
Kenneth Robert Jones
Kenneth Robert Jones was born to Willie and Lillian Hartley Jones on Oct. 20, 1940, in Griffin, Ga. He was their only child. Ken peacefully passed away at his home on April 2, 2018. He was 77 years old. Funeral services were held April 6, 2018, at the Mountain View Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, officiated by Ministers Willis Dyck, Ben Nystrom, Glenn Ensz and Shane Ensz. Interment was in the adjoining cemetery.
Ken was reared by his mother and loved and surrounded by aunts and cousins in Southern Georgia. Many memories and wonderful stories came from his early years.
After graduating from high school in Georgia, Ken joined the Air Force where he served in Intelligence. His time in the Air Force gave him opportunity to travel the world. Germany, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Alaska were some places he spoke of often.
While stationed in Germany, Ken met his first wife, Marion. When the Air Force re-stationed him in Alaska, his wife joined him there and this is where their only child, Carol, was born. Ken loved his time in Alaska.
After 20 years in the Air Force, Ken retired from the military and moved to San Antonio, Texas. He went to work for Southwest Research Institute where he worked for 20 more years before retiring again. Ken’s keen intelligence and amazing memory were put to good use in his work there.
Ken suffered a loss when his wife, Marion, passed away from cancer in 1988.
Ken met the love of his life, Jennifer Bryant, in 1989 in San Antonio, starting a relationship that lasted 29 years until his death. Ken accepted and loved Jennifer’s children as his own and likewise Jennifer loved Ken’s as her own. Together they moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1999, building their dream home overlooking the Kootenai River. Ken and Jennifer were married on April 1, 2006.
Ken again suffered a great loss in 2002 when his daughter, Carol, passed away from cancer, leaving her husband, Steven, and eight-year-old son, Geordi, behind.
Once again heartache came when Ken’s step-daughter, Donna, suddenly passed away at their home in November, 2010.
Ken and Jennifer started attending church at Mountain View Mennonite Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He was baptized on March 15, 2015 by Minister Glenn Ensz. He loved his church family and cared deeply for them. Ken was especially fond of the singing which spoke to his heart.
Ken was a rock to his wife and family. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and believed in being fair. He was a loving, sensitive husband, father and grandfather. Ken loved cooking and canning and shared this bounty with many friends and neighbors. Ken was an avid reader. He retained what he read and generously shared the knowledge he gained. His generosity knew no bounds.
Ken loved his little dogs that were his constant companions. Springtime found Ken hanging many, many hummingbird feeders that would bring the birds he so enjoyed watching. Of late, Ken expressed at bedtime, every night, how much he loved his wife and the wonderful care she was giving him. Every day they thanked God for the gift of another day together.
Ken is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer; son, Michael Uthe, San Antonio, Texas; grandsons, Geordi Opris, Virginia; Brandon Cunningham, Beeville, Texas; Christian Uthe, San Antonio, Texas; granddaughters, Brandy Cunningham and sons, Sean and Tyler, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Crystal and Jesse Geiger, Ottawa, Ill.; Faith Uthe, San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law, Marilyn Hopson, Kerrville, Texas and her daughters; one aunt, Bessie Godfrey, Alabama.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, and two daughters.