Robert "Bob" Lee Jones

Robert L. Jones, 91 of 421 Van Thomas Drive passed away on December 19, 2013 at home. Bob was born in Clay County, Tennessee on September 10, 1922 to Taylor Lee and Mary Florence (Dale) Jones. He graduated from Celina High School in June 1941. He entered Tennessee Tech School of Engineering in August of that year. He served in the Army during World War II from November 1942 until the war was over. Bob served in the 476th AAA AW (Anti-aircraft) Bn. Attached to the 41st Infantry Division in the Southwest Pacific. He took part in 3 invasions: New Guinea, Biak Island and the Philippines. After discharge Bob served in the National Guard in Tennessee, Alabama and New York. He graduated from the Army Company Officer’s Commission in 1958 as a Captain (Armored Artillery). He re-entered Tennessee Tech after his service and graduated with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951. Bob joined IBM in November of that year. He worked in multiple locations, among them: Kingston, New York, Huntsville, Alabama, Bethesda, Maryland and Raleigh. Two of his most challenging career assignments while at IBM was as manager of hardware in automating the Intelligence Operations at the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in Omaha and as manager of the design and implantation of NASA’s Space Flight Operations Facilities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California.

While at Tennessee Tech Bob met and married Opaline Owens on March 18, 1950. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Bob is survived by his wife Opaline of 63 years, his son Rodney and wife Audrey of Apex, NC; daughters, Deborah Barbee of Alexandria, VA and Sharon and husband Glenn Perry of Wendell, NC. grandchildren Susannah Barbee of Washington, DC; Leah Holmes and husband Ted Holmes of Kill Devil Hills, NC; Bradley Jones of Apex, NC and Caroline Pudova of Apex, NC. step-granddaughter Lisa and husband Todd Gardner of Raleigh, NC; two great-granddaughters: Anna and Mary Holmes and one great-grandson, Aiden Jones.

Bob was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, the William G. Hill Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Bodies of Raleigh and a charter member of the shrine AMRAM Temple of Raleigh. He was also a member of the American Legion in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Bob enjoyed playing golf and as a long-time member of Raleigh Country Club where he served as Treasurer and board member for many years and was also a member of the Wildwood Greens Golf Club. He was very active in the Democratic Party in North Carolina as well as New York and Tennessee. He served as Precinct Chairman, County Treasurer, on the NC State Executive Committee and other positions where he thought he could make a difference. He was also a long-time member of the NCSU Wolfpack Club and served on many fund raising activities. He loved Wolfpack football and made many out-of-state trips to “cheer on the Pack”. Bob was very active in the JAYCEES while living in New York. He thought that the young people should be heard. He was a local president in Saugerties and a New York state vice-president. Bob was awarded a life time membership as a Senator in the International JCI organization by the NY JAYCEES.

The family will receive friends on Dec 23, 2013 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on Millbrook Rd in Raleigh. The funeral service will follow immediately at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St, Oxford, NC 27565.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.BrownWynne.com