Edgar David Jones was born in Coleman, Oklahoma on February 18, 1929, to parents Paul R. And Ova Naomi Jones. They lived and worked on the family dairy farm for most of Dad’s life. Dad shared his memory of coming to the Lord at the little church in Fillmore where the family attended together - “ I remember that I went forward and my Dad came to deal with me. He told me to believe and trust in God.” Daddy did just that for all his 94 years.
Daddy lived a life of service to others, using his God-given abilities to see a problem and then get it fixed. He fixed things and worked on projects right up until his very last days.
At 20 years old, Dad left the farm to join the United States Air Force to serve during the Korean War. Dad ended up in England, serving in various capacities there. While there, he connected with other servicemen with a heart to share Christ and the good news of the Gospel to a country that had churches that were dying and whose youth no longer saw the relevance of having Christ in their lives. Daddy and his friends used their own funds to rent buses and picked up youth around their service area. They held rallies and fellowships with the goal of reaching the youth of England for Christ.
While working on this endeavor, Daddy met the love of his life, Pamela Jean Overton Jones. Mom’s mother (Lena) made sure that the shy Edgar was able to meet our mom. It’s a comfort to know Daddy is now reunited with the woman who loved him like a mom and he loved in return.
Mom and Dad were married in Fakenham, England, on March 13, sixty-nine years ago. They were together for 71 Years (Mom will tell you they had to postpone their wedding three times). When they came back to the States, they moved back to help on the farm. There, Mom and Dad both worked hard in hopes of modernizing to make the place profitable.
Three of their four children were born in Ada, Oklahoma (closest hospital). Cindy Jean was born in 1955; Kevin Paul in 1956; Debra Lynn in 1957. David Charles came along after the move to Oklahoma City in 1959 when Edgar joined the newly formed Federal Aviation Agency.
Dad has been a strong family leader who wisely led us as we all grew up. He has served as a deacon in multiple churches and has looked for ways to help others his entire life. He has set the bar high for us in how we live and love others. He taught Sunday School for many years, working with young married couples as well as his own age group at Mims for around 20 years. Dad and Mom have many friendships formed from these groups. They both served as well by making hospital visits for many years. Their investment in others during these years creates great memories for them.
He is survived by his wife Pamela Jean, all four of his children and their spouses (John Cunningham, Kim Rivera Jones, Timothy Loyola, Kathy Oliver Jones). He is also survived by a slew of grandkids - Christy Dekay (husband Nick); John David Cunningham (wife Jamie); Sara Bruckart (husband James); Kelsey Arnold (husband Brett); Megan Fraley (husband Derrick); Erin Chapman (husband Shane); Shannon Jones; Nathan Loyola (wife Corteney); Jenae Loyola-Gibson (husband Shane); Candace Garcia (husband Freddy); Ryan Jones (wife Alana). He is also survived by his youngest sister, Faye Brawley and her kids Susan and Brian with their families. Great-grandkids - TJ, Emily, Rosalie, Sebastian, Caleb, Elijah, Anna Grace, Jesse, Seth, Cora Beth, Abigail, Sammy, Jack, Maggie, Barrett Edgar, Vivian, Wade, Walker, Naomi, Aidon, Emmett, Hazel, Brielle, Ransom, Wesley, Judah, Lydia Jane, Everett, Oliver, Taos.
Dad was preceded in death by both his parents (Paul and Ova), his grandson, Timothy Cunningham (KIA in Iraq), and his sister, Rita Colby.
Mom and Dad have SO many friends that they have made and kept through the years. Dad is having an amazing reunion with so many family members who have gone before and with many of those friends.
Please join us at Mims Baptist Church on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. for a Celebration of Life for our Dad.
