Sylvia Jones

Sylvia was born and raised in Kansas. Her Mother kept a flower garden and her Father a vegetable garden, instilling in Sylvia a love of nature. Sylvia always sketched, but really began concentrating on art when she was in high school under the guidance of a wonderful art teacher. She attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma where she explored many different media, often working out “in the field.” Sylvia met her first husband William Leng, a USAF pilot, while in Enid. They were married for six years and had two children, Niki and Gregg. Bill died in an aircraft accident when they were stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Bob and Sylvia Jones were married forty-two years ago in Ohio where Bob, a Colonel in the Office of Special Investigation, USAF, was raising two of his four boys. Bob grew up in Concord, New Hampshire and when he retired, the family moved to Dover, New Hampshire. The Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point in Rye, New Hampshire quickly became a special place to Sylvia. Her first visit was as a chaperone on a field trip for son Jeff’s class. Inspired by the docent volunteers “who knew so much about the ocean,” she soon began training to become a University of New Hampshire Marine Docent. She taught “rocky shore” programs and a summer program “Victorians and the Sea”. While sitting at a picnic table enjoying the late summer flowers several years ago, Sylvia and some friends came up with the idea of cataloging the wildflowers in the park. With her passion for plants and paint she has completed over forty-eight flower illustrations, examples of these are on display at the Seacoast Science Center and are on display here today. Wildflowers and Watercolors, Sylvia’s workshop, was offered at the Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire from June to August for many years.

They spent the winter months in Palm Coast, FL with their succession of black chow-chow’s, currently Dhow Sahn Jones. Bob is an avid golfer, Sylvia an avid educator and swimmer. Sylvia volunteered at the University of Florida Whitney Lab, a marine/medical research center as a docent. She was also a member of the Flagler County Education Foundation and a volunteer at a satellite campus of Flagler/Palm Coast High School. Bob and Sylvia are members of PCUMC. Sylvia was a member of the PCUMC Chancel Choir and served as a Lay Reader. In New Hampshire she was a Deacon in the First Parish Church, Congregational in Dover and sang in the choir. Sylvia will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her step-children, Robert, Garry and Jeffrey Jones. Survivors include her husband Robert L. Jones, children, Nicolette (Steve) Vallandigham, Gregg A. Leng; step-son, Timothy J. Jones; grandchildren, Stefne M. Vallandigham, William N. Vallandigham, Nicholas W. Leng, MacKenzie J. Leng, Torianna E. Leng, Spencer Jones, Jarrod Jones, Lauren Jones and R. Hunter Jones.