Dennis Lee Jones

"I'd like to think of myself as a 'major league' grandpa." Indeed, Dennis Lee Jones was one of the best grandpas, fathers, husbands, brothers and friends that ever lived when he passed away on March 26 after a four-month intense fight against liver cancer.

Raised in Rosemead with brother Robert and sister Dee, Dennis loved to recall the "American Graffiti" days of cruising the San Gabriel Valley with friends in his '50 Merc. While attending Pasadena City College, he met Carolann Dolores Von Eute and married in 1963. The newlyweds settled in Temple City where they raised three children, Maryann, Margaret and Dennis Michael.

While working as a meter reader for SoCal Gas in the 1960s, Dennis was chosen to train as a computer programmer. Thus began his career in IT, working in downtown LA, graduating from the University of Redlands, and retiring from ARCO in Pasadena with great friends and fun memories.

Dennis' retirement involved golfing, hiking, gardening, traveling and consulting, but his no. 1 job since 2000 has been "Grandpa" to West, Pearl, Andrew, Patrick, Lila, Adam and Abigail - whether that involved watching them play sports, read books, eat ice cream, sing in a Christmas concert or just sleep in his arms.

Whether its celebrating on Christmas morning, barbequing by the pool, fishing with the boys, tackling a tech issue, securing a babysitter, choosing what to watch on TV, basking in the LA weather, finding flowers for the yard, fixing whatever just broke, digitizing a slide show, chronicling our family history, needing a hip-hop playlist, praying for the Lakers, cheering for the Bruins, or griping that Pac12 basketball gets no respect, we will all miss you and love you forever.

Funeral services will be held at St. Luke Church in Temple City at 11:00a.m. on Friday, April 13. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Dennis Lee Jones Memorial to support local family parks https://bit.ly/2q7mALa