The Family of Roger Jones, Sr., of West Caldwell, Air Force Veteran, Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal, West Caldwell Fireman, Have Announced His Death
by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
WEST CALDWELL, NJ - The family of Roger L. Jones, Sr., of West Caldwell, has announced that he passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, at 82, with family by his side. Family and friends are deeply saddened by their loss and the community will mourn his absence.
Jones was born in East Rutherford to his parents Ralph and Harriet Jones, who raised him above their family business, Jones System Cleaners, in Bloomfield. In 1950, he graduated from Bloomfield High School, and the following year he enlisted in the United States Air Force and reported to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas for training. Jones was then deployed from San Francisco to the Korean War for a thirteen-month tour. While in Korea, Jones served in the Psychological Warfare division’s combat unit and was stationed on an island near Yeongdeungpo and Seoul.
In addition to dropping surrender pamphlets and broadcasting messages to enemy troops, Jones also maintained B-17 bombers and C-47 cargo planes. His unit performed nighttime raids dropping fire flares over enemy patrols to illuminate their locations for US ground troops.
In recognition for his service, after the War Jones was awarded the following medals:
Jones married Dolores Schmidt in 1957; they lived in Bloomfield and Cedar Grove before moving to West Caldwell in 1960. He continued to manage the dry cleaning business until it closed in 1980, and went on to work for West Caldwell's Public Works Department until 1998.
"My Dad loved spending time with family and friends,"
Since his retirement, Jones was also a member of the Old Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was also an active member at the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell and volunteered for nearly twenty years, eventually as a lieutenant, with the West Caldwell Fire Department.
On Monday, May 27, 2013, Jones was honored for his war efforts and many years of community service by being named Grand Marshal of the West Essex annual Memorial Day Parade. On that occasion, Jones and his family were all smiles as they made their way down the avenue to their places on the grandstand. Driven by Dorothy Handy of Caldwell, Jones said he “felt blessed” by the abundant sunshine.
Roger Jones' Family
Roger was predeceased by his parents, as well as by his brother, Ralph, and son-in-law Donald Herzig II. He is survived by:
The memorial arrangements for Roger L. Jones, Sr. are as follows:
Message of Condolence
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Codey & Jones Funeral Home of Caldwell. Notes of sympathy may be written to the family online here.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, the West Essex First Aid Squad or to the West Caldwell Fire Department would be greatly appreciated: