Turner Lewis Jones III

We are sad to announce the passing of Pete on March 28, 2024 at the age of 79. He was the much loved husband of Kay for 57 years. Pete was a devoted father to Amanda de Leon (Frank) and Melanie Jones (her partner Marty) and grandfather to Gabriel de Leon whom he loved dearly. He had one brother Steve. Pete was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He moved to Knoxville when he was six and brought up by his mother and very special grandmother. Pete loved baseball and played pitcher and 1st base, being a lefty, on the City All Star Team. He attended Fulton High School and on to The University of Tennessee. He always said “if you cut me I bleed orange”. He was President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Treasurer of Inter-fraternity Council ,member of Student Facility Disciplinary Committee, candidate for Vice President of the Junior Senior Class, business manager for Keys to Fraternities and a member of the Vol Core. Pete earned his BS in marketing in 1966 and his MBA the following year. After graduation he taught marketing at UT for two years and later at Hillsborough Community College and The University of South Florida. In 1969 he joined Proctor and Gamble as a territory manager in Jacksonville. He was promoted to Tampa as Unit Sales Manager in 1971. In 1974 he joined Acosta Sales, a food brokerage, as general manager of Tampa. He was named Vice President in 1976 and Executive Vice President in 1981. In 1983 Pete became President of Acosta Sales at 40 years old. He was named Vice Chairman in 1993. He held leadership roles on a number of trade associations, including chairman of National Food Brokerage Association committee on Energy and Transportation. He was on Kal Kan, New Age Beverage, Contadina and Andrew Jergens advisory boards. When Pete joined Acosta they had and office in Jacksonville and Tampa. When he retired in 2000 they had 87 offices in 49 states. Whatever Pete did “He gave it his all”. He loved to travel, especially anywhere there was a beautiful beach, eat good food, drink fine wine and rye manhattans, fishing and football. Pete was honored on center field at a Buccaneers game for being a 50 year season ticket holder.

In lieu of flowers Pete loved all dogs and cats and he chose The Humane Society of Tampa 3607 Armenia Ave. 33607. He is gone but his spirit lives in the memories of those who knew him and loved him.