Charles Thomas Jones

Charles Thomas Jones, 103, of Oklahoma City, passed away at his home on May 26, 2023. He was born February 9, 1920 in Monterey, Tennessee, one of seven children born to Oplis and Vera Jones. Just as he was a man of many talents, he also had more than one nickname. As young man he was sometimes known as “Chuck”, then as time and life passed he became “Charlie” then “C. T.”.

He attended Lone Wolf Public Schools before he joined the U.S. Navy in 1944, serving on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga in WWII. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Charlie worked as a diesel mechanic beginning at the Caterpillar dealership Hobart, Oklahoma. As the dealerships change owners, he stayed in the same job, progressing to his retirement as General Service Manager of Boecking Machinery in Oklahoma City in 1985.

Charlie married Oleta Wheeler March 18, 1939 and they were married 72 years until her death in 2011. Together, they had four children: Lucille, Clifford, Linda and Janice. Charlie was always a good provider for his family. Sometimes he provided food through one of his favorite pastimes, hunting. He would bring quail and ducks home and put them into the kitchen floor for the kids to pluck and dress. He was also good in the kitchen if you could handle his special blend of spices. He made his own jerky and salsa and would share his special recipes with a chosen few. Charlie loved spending time fishing on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico or he was happy hunting and fishing in Canada.

He taught his children the importance of a strong work ethic and being a responsible person. Growing up, the kids and grandkids helped on the farm and in the garden.

Charlie was a 50+ year member of the Siloam Masonic Lodge and a 50+ year member of Valley of Guthrie Scottish Rite.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Oleta, son Clifford Jones, siblings Dillard Jones, Thelma Music, Anna Sue Harrell, and Margaret Mueller. He has two living sisters, Doris Mitchell and Dorothy Gentry.

Charles leaves to carry on his legacy his daughters Lucille Wendelken of Yukon, Linda Jordan and husband Darrell of Bethany and Janice Trosper and husband Ed, of Nashville, TN; ten grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and twelve great great grandchildren as well as many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73162. A service to celebrate Charlie’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, 2023 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home with interment following in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-okc.com for the Jones family.