Gene R. Jones Sr.

The world has lost a wonderful man. Gene R. Jones Sr. left this Earth on March 19, 2016, with Rachel, his wife of 63 years, by his side. He was 83 years old.

Gene was born Nov. 14, 1932, in Columbia, Tennessee. He joined the Navy in 1952 and was stationed in San Diego. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He and Rachel were married in Columbia, Tennessee on Feb. 7, 1953, and have three children.

Gene and Rachel lived a short time in California before venturing north to Alaska in 1957. Throughout the years, regardless of where they were traveling, or living, Alaska would always be home.

Gene’s career began in the electronics field and later in the telecommunications industry. During the early pipeline construction years, Gene worked for Anchorage Radio and Television and later for BP Alaska. In 1978, Gene accepted employment with Harris Corporation and was assigned overseas, where he and Rachel traveled the world.

In 1983, they were transferred to Rochester, N.Y., where Gene finished his working career. In 1999, after retirement, they moved back to Alaska to be closer to their kids, grandkids and numerous friends.

Gene was a bush pilot, an avid hunter, fisherman and snowmachiner. Hawaii was a special place for Gene. He enjoyed numerous trips to the “islands” and there, he and Rachel renewed their wedding vows on their 25th wedding anniversary at Fern Grotto.

To know Gene was to love him. He had a kind and gentle soul and will be missed terribly. He is survived by his wife, Rachel; sons, Rocky (Gene Jr.) Jones, and partner Lynn Craig; and son Richard Jones; daughter, Vicki Malone, and partner Allen Cornelison; granddaughters, Christie Wilbur, and husband Troy, and Judy Urbano; grandson, Travis Merrigan; and five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, two of whom he was especially close with, Linda Borum, of Nashville, Tennesse, and Jan Bedrosin, of Sacramento, California.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at 6 p.m. at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown, located at 820 West 7th Avenue, with light hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar. Please bring a story about Gene to share with the group.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the American Heart Association. He will be buried in Angelus Memorial Park, Anchorage, Alaska, this summer.