Donald F. Jones, 86, of Verona

VERONA>> Donald F. Jones, 86, of Collins Road, passed away peacefully in his home, with his family by his side on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015.

Born in Oneida on Oct. 26, 1928, he was a son of Harry and Ellen Hill Jones. A lifelong resident of the area, Don was a graduate of Oneida High School, Class of 1946 where he was a quarterback of the championship football team. He graduated from SUNY Farmingdale and Cornell University with his master of science degree in agronomy. Don married Johanna White in St. Agatha’s Church on Feb. 16, 1951.

Don first taught agriculture and shop in the New Berlin High School and then went to SUNY Alfred to teach agronomy. He established and administered Wellsville Vocational College, a division of Alfred State University. Don later became the Dean of Agriculture at Morrisville State College as well as a professor of agronomy and retired with a full professorship from SUNY Morrisville.

Following his retirement from Morrisville, he was instrumental in promoting alternative agriculture in the Mohawk Valley. He became a director of the Utica School of Commerce where he established the Canastota campus and served on the Board of Directors for the school, was chairman of the NewYork State Agriculture Society and was an avid hunter and fisherman and played trombone in a band while in college. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church of the Lake, Verona Beach. Surviving besides his wife Johanna are: three daughters and two sonsin-law, Deborah Milne of Seal Beach, Calif., Mary and John vanLieshout of Lee Center and Rebecca and Joseph vanLieshout of Verona; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Dr. Michael Jones and John and Kelly Jones, all of Verona; 12 grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Peter D. Jones on April 1, 1992 and a brother, Enoch Jones.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Ofrona Reid for his compassion and care.

Funeral services will be held 9:30 a.m. Monday from St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Verona Beach, where the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. William Mesmer. Interment will be made in Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main St., Oneida from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Sunday. Contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38015.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.campbell-dean.com.

CAMPBELL-DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Oneida