Margaret Elizabeth Jones-Wich

Margaret Elizabeth Parish Jones-Wich, was born in Azle, Texas on May 30,1917. Marge at age 101 went to be with the Lord October 15, 2018. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. A great friend of many people throughout her 101 years. Most dear to her heart were her family. Her two children, Margie and Jimmy, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marge grew up on a farm in South Texas, down in the Rio Grande Valley. She was the middle child who loved to sew and was a wonderful southern cook.

She married Jim Jones in January 1937 and due to the second world war she became a Navy Wife. Their daughter Margie was born in November 1937. During this time they moved to Panama and lived there until 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. At that time she collected her belongings because the word was out that there was going to be a possible bombing of the Panama Canal. Everyone on the Base was on high alert. With her 4 year old daughter, they were sent with all Navy dependents on any available ships leaving Panama to the United States. She and her daughter were put on an American Fruit Freighter Ship out of Panama. On the way out, the ship was hit by a typhoon and had to travel close to the shore by sounding. Marge was seasick the whole trip, and little Margie enjoyed the ride. Marge’s parents met them at the ship and drove them back to San Juan, Texas where they lived for 2 years while Jim was back and forth out at sea. In 1943 her son Jimmy was born and shortly after Marge decide to drive to the East Coast with her two young children (by herself) to join her husband. She had a very hard time finding a place to live due to the war. She lived there a few months when Jim was again transferred out to sea. Marge was such a strong and fearless woman. This was one of her many traveling experiences as a Navy wife.

When the war was over, Jim was transferred to North Island Naval base in Coronado, California where they were lucky enough to find Navy housing on the bay. In 1947, after many years of living in military housing, she and Jim decide to move Sunnyside, California so their children could have a home and a wonderful life in the country. they wanted to make permanent friendships and become part of a community. She and Jim were looking forward to buying their first home, settling down, and making it their own. They chose the Sunnyside valley because it was a small rural community.

Shortly after the Korean war broke out, Marge went to work for the Navy exchange in San Diego where she worked for several years. At that time, of course, Jim was shipped out to the South China Sea. At times, none of the families knew where their husbands were. Sometimes up to 18 months at a time. Unknown to anyone, (including Marge) he and his helicopter crew were sent out on the first Hydrogen Bomb experiment on Enewetak in the Marshall Islands. They were sent on three helicopters from the carrier. The bomb was pre-set to go off and there was no turning back. He nearly lost his life due to engine failure on one of the helicopters.

After the Korean War ended Jim retired from the Navy and became the first Fire chief of the Bonita-Sunnyside, Volunteer Fire Department. Soon after, Marge went to work and became bookkeeper, secretary and dispatch for the Fire Department. She worked there for 30 years and became quite a busy person in the Bonita Valley. She and Jim were also members of the San Diego County Tierra Del Sol Jeep club. They spent many years enjoying camping and off-road Jeeping in the California desert. Marge was a member of the Eastern Star and the Sweetwater womens club. Sadly in 1971 Jim passed away. Marge continued to live in Sunnyside as a widow for 15 years. When she was 70 years old, while visiting her son Jimmy and his family in Albuquerque, they introduced her to a wonderful man, George H. Wich. George had a bookkeeping and accounting office there in Albuquerque. They married soon after they met and worked together side by side for 25 years in his business. George will be 100 years old this January. He has two daughters and several grandchildren, and great grandchildren that Marge loved dearly as her own.

She will be greatly missed and with us always. She was the rock of our family and the person you could bounce any problem or thought off of and get a valuable honest opinion and wonderful heartfelt advice (even if you didn't want to hear it). She was known to all for her strength, her love of the Lord, her family, and her many stories about her wonderful adventurous life. Marge was a wonderful Southern cook, seamstress, and loved to remodel and decorate her home.

One of the most treasured things that she instilled in all of her children and grandchildren was that we should always remember that no matter how bad things seem, it only made us stronger for whatever comes next. She would say, “We came from strong stock, don't ever forget that!”

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Ina Clementine Bradshaw and Chester Arthur Parish of Texas. Her brother William D. Parish and sister Mary Emma Knollenberg. Her son, James P. Jones and her beloved husband, James W. Jones. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, George H. Wich. Her daughter, Margie Jones-Keyes (Ward Keyes III); George’s daughters; Cathy Parry (Mike Parry) and Judy Hall (Larry Hall). Daughter-in-law, Tish Jones; grandchildren; Ward Keyes IV, Kathy Keyes-Walker (Gary Walker), Mark Keyes, Chris Jones-Euscher (Rick Euscher), Justin Jones, Scott Hall, David Hall, Great grandchildren; Andrew Matkovich, Katie Walker, James Jones. Hailey Kotzyba, Kegan Hall.