Marta Sophie Jones

Marta Sophie Jones passed away on Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at the age of 97. Born in the Augsburg district of Bavaria, Germany on February 16th, 1917, she was the eldest daughter of Friedrich Port and Else (Flügel)Port. She attended boarding school as a teenager and went on to work with young children. Witnessing destruction and chaos of the Second World War firsthand, Marta survived the bombing of Bavaria’s capital Munich, and political and social upheaval all before the age of 30. She met and married Sergeant Major Edison J. Jones in 1947 and they began a life and family together. The couple crossed the North Atlantic Ocean to Fort Dix, New Jersey and Marta became a United States citizen in 1953. The family continued to grow and lived in Rochester, New York for 12 years. Later, Marta and her youngest daughter, Ruby, would settle in Hemlock, New York for over 8 years.

The Joneses relocated to Upper Marlboro, Maryland in 1982. As she did in Hemlock, Marta maintained a great enthusiasm for nature and gardening. She would enjoy the colorful cardinals perched on the birdhouse and menagerie of wildlife finding refuge in her backyard. She took simple pleasure in tea time and was always up for lively discussion on any topic, imparting her wisdom and insight. Ever since she was a little girl, Marta dreamed of the whimsical and the spring trip to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in Washington D.C. was a ritual for many years. Christmas was always a very special time, as Marta brought family and dear friends together from near and afar for celebration and excursions to the majestic Luray Caverns and historic Harpers Ferry, to name just a few. Birthdays were no exception and were revered as a serious time for laughter.

Marta is survived by her daughters Ruby and Ricarda Jones, and Ramona (husband Marion Moss) all of Upper Marlboro, Maryland and daughter Connie Jones of Buffalo, New York; two grandsons, Adam Jones of San Francisco, and Nathan Jones (wife Melissa Jones) and three great-grandsons Olawale, Fisayo, and Bamidele Jones of Chicago, Illinois; one granddaughter, Lisa Moss of Richmond, Virginia; cousins Charles Hayward and Shirley Smith of Rochester, New York; Wendy Barnett of Bradenton, Florida; Bonnie Chapelle, Claudine Hines and Rosalie Palmer all of Chandler, Arizona. In Bavaria, Germany she is also survived by nieces Rosemarie Mann-Stein and Fredericka Abegglen; nephew Klaus Mann (wife Claudia Mann); great nieces Julia Mann and Suzanna Mortsch and great nephew Florian Mann. She is preceded in death by her son Enrico Jones and husband Edison Jones; sister Ilse Mann and two brothers Ludwig and Fritz Geiger.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 10:30am to 11:45am at the Huntt Funeral Home, 3035 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, Maryland, where funeral service will be at 11:45am. Burial will be at Maryland Veterans' Cemetery, Cheltenham, Maryland