Clarence Jones

Clarence S. Jones, son of Arthur and Frances (Blaylock) Jones, was born September 30, 1919 in Humbolt, Arizona. He grew up in Humbolt, graduating in 1938 from Prescott, Arizona High School. Clarence joined the National Guard in 1937 and was called into the United States Army in September of 1940, serving in the North African – Middle Eastern Theater. He was involved in eight campaigns: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Roma-Arno, Anzio, Southern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, receiving an honorable discharged in September 1945. Clarence re-enlisted in 1949 and served in Alaska and Korea and later in Phoenix, Arizona as an ROTC Instructor.

Clarence was united in marriage to Elsie Hanson on March 16, 1955 in Phoenix. The family lived in Germany and Kansas until he was assigned to Waukegan, Illinois as an ROTC instructor at the high school. Upon retiring from the Army in 1967, Clarence continued to work for the school system in Waukegan, until moving to Starbuck in 1983. In 2006, he moved to the Minnewaska Lutheran Home, where he lived until the time of his death.

Clarence was a member of Fron Lutheran Church and a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4582 and the 45 ^th division.

Clarence died on Friday, March 6, 2009 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 89 years.

He is survived by one son: David Jones of Beach Park, IL; three daughters: Jeanne (Lou) Milewski of Boulder Junction, WI, Lori (Paul) Gruenwald of Gresham, OR and Jan (Wayne) Slusher of Silverdale, WA; one daughter-in-law: Marie Jones of Beach Park, IL; 11 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; two brothers: Charles and Lloyd; one sister: Velma Welch; one infant sister: Pearline and two nephew: Donald Welch and Dennis Jones.

Pallbearers for the service are: Eric Jones, Gary Hewitt, Robert Hewitt, John Hewitt, Paul Gruenwald and Steven Slusher. Shari Opdahl will serve as organist for the service with Joy Smith serving as soloist. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of arrangements.