Bob was the CEO of Fuelco when I started working there in 1982. I started out as the receptionist, but shortly after I started I had the opportunity to move into the drilling secretary position. As drilling secretary, I was responsible for taking the drilling reports over the phone every morning, typing them up and distributing them later in the morning. The drilling reports had a jargon full of shortened terms and abbreviations, and there was a special dictionary cntaining those special terms and abbreviations. After I had been the drilling secretary for a while, Bob called me up on the phone and asked me if I had a drilling dictionary, and I told him that I did. He proceeded to tell me that I needed to start using it because it didn't appear that I was yet. Well...talk about a challenge! I started using the drilling dictionary for every term, phrase or abbreviation I could find in it. It took me twice as long to type up the drilling reports, but I was determined that if it was in the dictionary, I was going to use it. After about two weeks, Bob called me up on the phone again, only this time, he told me that now the drilling reports were so difficult to decipher, that HE had to refer to the drilling dictionary quite often to read them. We both laughed about that for a long time afterward! I have great memories of Bob and will miss him very much. I will always remember him.

My career started at Fuelco in 1978. His staff hired me as the "receptionist".  I just recently retired Nov/14.  Bob liked joking around.  I clearly to this day he said "if you are in trouble I will call you in my office".  I had the utmost respect for him.  I learned so much from him.  And yes - the yearly Fuelco picnics I always looked forward to seeing him and Betty.  He will be greatly missed! My sincere condolences go out to his friends and family.

I reported to Mr. Jonas while working for Fuelco and developing Leyden. He was prince of a chap.  He made me think of answers to my questions with his questions.  He was a treat to work with.
Rusty

I worked at Fuelco from July, 1979 until February of 1982. The last year was as Bob's secretary. Betty was offered the job but didn't want to work for him, so I took the job.... I left the company a year later, but kept in touch with every one.  Betty and I bowled together and, in time, we invited Bob to be on our team.  He was a good teammate and soon became attracted to Betty.  He asked me to find out if she was interested in dating him, and the rest is history. They were married a year later.  They were both so special to me.  We had so much fun traveling and just being together sharing good times.  I would love to stand up at his service and entertain you with stories, but I won't be able to be there.  I am there in spirit, though, and thinking of all of you from Fuelco.  Karen Robineau

I started working for Bob in 1981 at Fuelco.  He was old-school but that was a good thing.  He flew B-24s like my father did in WWII so I give him high marks for his military service.  I bowled with him and some other great guys on the Fuelco team in the PSCo men's league for a few years and we had a ball.  I also had a lot of fun bowling with him and Betty and some other great Fuelco people at the old Celebrity Lanes.  Bob was a good man to work for and there was never a dull moment at Fuelco.  When everyone found out Bob was going to marry Betty it blew our minds.  They were a great pair and they had a lot of fun times in retirement.  Fuelco is long gone but we still have a summer picnic every year--that shows how much everyone enjoyed working there.  It seems like the end of an era but I'm glad to have known Bob--he will certainly be missed.  Peace to his family and his many friends.

I've never known a man who exhibited more good manners and integrity than Bob Jonas.
Charles Barrows
geologist
Fuel Resources Development Co.

I followed Bob as the Western Slope Gas Co Engrg Mgr in 1970 and worked in the same office area with him for 7 years.  We connected his gas wells. He was a delight to work with -- a highly respected professional with a great sense of humor.  He didn't talk about his WWII experiences.  Heroic service.  A good man.

OBITUARY

Robert Frank Jonas

18 September, 1923 – 29 March, 2015

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill

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