Roger Jones

By By

Soldotna, Alaska resident Roger Dean Jones died peacefully Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 surrounded by his family at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. He was 72.
A viewing was 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 159 Marydale Avenue in Soldotna. A funeral was held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. President Larry D. Ellis presided at the service. Burial was 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
Roger was born Nov. 5, 1935 in Salt Lake City to Edna Brown and David George Jones, but was raised by Edna Brown and Durane William Jones, whom he knew as his father. He spent his childhood in various places in Idaho and Utah. He had 12 brothers and sisters. He joined the U.S. Army in 1954 in the Vet Corp. He married LynnAnn Minchey on Dec. 17. 1960. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Roger entered flight training school in June, 1966 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a pilot, where he received many awards. He retired from the military in June 1975.
Roger spent his civilian career as a supervisor for Utah Power and Light in Huntington, Utah. He retired from the power plant in 1990.
He became a resident of Alaska in 1999. He was an avid golfer in the summer and bowler in the winter. He supported his grandchildren in their athletic endeavors. Roger and his wife were named grandparents of the Skyview High School volleyball team in 2006.
“Roger’s family was his most precious treasure,” his family said.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Mary Grange, Clifford Jones, Clifton Jones, Billie Kessler, sister-in-law, Margie Jones and brother-in-law, Sam Cranford.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn; children, Gregg Jones and his wife Karen, Diana Grant and her husband Bob, all of Soldotna; grandchildren, Dustin, Daniel, Brady and Brandon Jones, Jesse Grant, and Jordan Johnson and her husband Jake; sibings, David Wayne Jones and his wife Lena, Ronald Jones and his wife Janet, Rex Jones and his wife Klea, Erna Anna Jones, Mickey Cranford, Lenard Doyle Jones and his wife Louise, Janene Avery and her husband David, Joann Shannon and her husband Tom; sister-in-law, Marva Jones; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.