Thomas Elliot Jones

Former Anchorage resident Thomas Elliot Jones, 74, died peacefully at home in Palmer Feb. 1, 2010, surrounded by family and friends.

A service will be held Monday at Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home Chapel, 1707 Bragaw St. in Anchorage. Burial to follow on March 5 at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery.

Mr. Jones was born on Sept. 18, 1935, to Charlie Tooshirts and Virginia Jones in Richmond, Va. He was a longtime Teamster and Alaska angler. Mr. Jones moved to Seattle and retired in the late 1990s, but still drove semi trucks across the country.

He came to Alaska in the 1950s while serving in the Air Force. After Mr. Jones was discharged, he joined the Teamsters and helped build up the Anchorage and Mat-Su areas.

He is survived by his ex-wife Terry Banducci; daughters Jeanette Price, Tahonishi Bell and Chelsey Gaje; grandchildren Andrea, Jessica and Andrew Pointer, Joseph Price, Bertrell Poole and son-in-law Richard Vowell, Myles Price and daughter-in-law Crystal Campbell, Christina Thomas, Todd Roberson and daughter-in-law Vanley Sansee, Gymiki Bell-Jones and Kaeden Rice; great-grandchildren Adrian and Genetrell Pointer, Ashley and Jeremy Lozon, Joshua Kelly, Malyki and Gaje Stamper, Kylitha and Nollege Price, and Unique Roberson.

The family writes: “We all hurt inside when we lose a family member, but we have to embrace the fact that he is in a better place and remember him as a good, lovable father, grandpa, friend and soldier.”

Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.