Charles David Jones
December 13, 2024

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" - 2 Timothy 4:7

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Jones went home to be with his Lord on Dec. 13, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Charles was born in Watseka, Illinois, in December 1945 to Mary Hoke Jones and William Jones. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy Class of 1968 with a bachelor's degree in engineering sciences (astronautics). He went on to earn a master's degree from Stanford University in nuclear engineering. He completed a full Air Force career with assignments as a research officer at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, a C-141 pilot, an Air Force Academy physics professor, and a combat simulation consultant at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Charles married Joy Miller in 1968, and together raised two sons, Charles and Keith. Charles loved riding their horses at the Air Force Academy stables with his wife, Joy, studying history, skiing, hunting, fishing and camping with his children and grandchildren.

Charles is preceded in death by his father, William. He is survived by his mother, Mary; his brother, Bill (Linda); his wife, Joy; his sons, Charles (Melissa) and Keith (Claudia); his grandchildren, Hannah (Brenden), Chase, Drew, Lauren, and Colby; and his great-grandchildren, Liam and Grayson. Charles will be remembered for his integrity, wisdom, caring devotion to his family, loyalty and service to his country, and his love for Christ. His memory will bless our family, who are deeply saddened by his passing. He was laid to rest with military honors in Salida, Colorado.                                                   (Keith Jones '96, son)

Obituary
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” - 2 Timothy 4:7

Charles Jones went home to be with his Lord on December 13, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He had lung cancer. He was 78 years old.

Charles was born in Watseka, Illinois, to Mary Hoke Jones and William Jones. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy class of 1968 with a B.S. Degree in Engineering Sciences (Astronautics) and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Stanford in Nuclear Engineering. He completed a full Air Force career with assignments as a research officer at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, NM, a C-141 pilot, an Air Force Academy Physics Professor, and a Combat Simulation Consultant at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Charles married Joy Miller in 1968, and together raised two sons, Charles and Keith. Charles loved riding their horses at the Air Force Academy stables with his wife Joy, studying history, skiing, hunting, fishing and camping with his children and grandchildren.

Charles is preceded in death by his father, William.

He is survived by his mother Mary, his brother Bill (Linda), his wife Joy, his sons Charles (Melissa) and Keith (Claudia), his grandchildren Hannah (Brenden), Chase, Drew, Lauren, and Colby, and his great grandchildren Liam and Grayson.

Charles will be remembered for his integrity, his wisdom, his caring devotion to his family, his loyalty and service to his country, and his love for Christ. His memory will bless our family who is deeply saddened by his passing.

In his memory, please consider a donation to the American Lung Association.

Graveside Service will be at 12:00PM, Monday, December 23, 2024, at Fairview Cemetery located at Co Road 142, Salida, Colorado, 81201