Randolph L. Jones
It is with sadness that the family of Randolph Lee Jones announces that he died on November 16,
2018. Randy was born the youngest of five in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 1924 where he was raised by his parents, Harry Tudor Jones and Catherine Wylie Roddey Jones, and spent his childhood summers with his extended family (including many, many cousins) in Montreat, North Carolina. Randy attended Virginia Military Institute prior to serving in the United States Army in World War II. Upon returning home, he graduated from Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia and then the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. After being ordained as a United Methodist minister, Randy served as a missionary in Japan for a total of ten years at Kwansei Gakuin University holding positions of teacher and chaplain. When he returned to the US, Randy worked as a teaching hospital chaplain at Overlook Hospital in Summit NJ, at Bergen Pines County Hospital, Paramus NJ, and eventually retired as Director of Pastoral Care from The Presbyterian Hospital in New York City where he did co-ministry with his wife, Emily Jean Gilbert. While living in the New York City area, they became very active members of Judson Memorial Church where they still hold their membership. Randy is predeceased by his sisters Perry Lee Jones Cumming and Catherine Jones Frith, his brothers Harry Tudor Jones, Jr. and Joseph Roddey Jones, and an infant son, Donald. He is survived by his wife, his four children by a prior marriage: Randolph L. Jones Jr. of Rochester, NY, Caroline Jones Vose (Marv) of Colorado Springs, CO, Lenore Jean Jones (John, deceased) of Hoboken, NJ and Catherine Jones McClarin of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren: Genevieve Vose Wallace, Chuck Lauer Vose (Erica), and Samuel Hungerford; and one great grandson, Owen John Wallace. Randy spent his retirement years in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania as an avid gardener, creator of a lovely bluebird trail, and ferocious reader. During these years, Randy also continued to be a witness for truth and justice, relinquishing his ordination in the United Methodist Church because of its refusal to ordain LGBTQ folk.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 2 PM in St. John's United Church of Christ, 36 S 6th St, Allentown, PA with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Community Action League Lehigh Valley (CACLV. org/donate) or Judson Memorial Church, New York, NY (Judson.org/give).
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