Obituary of Roger L. Jones

Roger L. Jones, Sr. West Caldwell Veteran and Volunteer Fireman Roger Lee Jones, Sr. passed peacefully on Sunday morning August 9, 2015 in his West Caldwell NJ home of 55 years. A veteran, community pillar, and devoted family man, Roger lived a remarkably full 82 years. Family and friends are invited to visit at the Codey & Jones Funeral Home, 54 Roseland Avenue, Caldwell NJ on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 4 – 8 pm. A Service of Resurrection and Remembrance will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, 326 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 10:00 am. The interment will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. To extend condolences or share a memory, please visit www.codeyjonesfh.com. Roger was born in East Rutherford, NJ to Ralph and Harriet Jones, who raised him in Bloomfield NJ, above the family business, Jones System Cleaners. After schooling and military service, Roger would manage the business until it closed in 1980. At that point, Roger went to work for the Township of West Caldwell in the Public Works Department; he greatly enjoyed his role in service to his community until his retirement in 1998. Jonesy was active in the community, notably as a dedicated member and eventual lieutenant in the West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for nearly two decades. Mr. Jones proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, and was equally proud to be honored for his military and public service by the West Essex Community in 2013, when he was appointed Grand Marshal of the Memorial Day Parade. Roger loved spending time with family and friends. He could repair or fix just about anything. At work he could keep machinery and pools running with his "Jonesy's band-aids". Time spent hunting and fishing with his sons and his outdoor "band of brothers" will be a cherished and remembered. The memory of the "Jones Boys" will live on every season. Roger loved not only his own family, but also his "extended" family, which took in the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, The West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department, The American Legion, James Caldwell Post 185 of Caldwell, and his "neighborhood family" on Laurel Place! Surviving Roger are his beloved wife of 58 years, Dolores M. Jones (nee Schmidt); devoted children, Roger L. Jones, Jr. and his wife Nancy; Lorry A. Callaghan and her husband, Michael; Garrett C. Jones;and Pamela M. Herzig; and 5 cherished grandchildren: Megan and Andrew Jones, Sean and Kevin Callaghan, and Amanda Herzig. He is also survived by loving niece Judy Vacula Miller and her husband, Robert; as well as granddogs Buster and Chase. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Ralph C. Jones, Jr.; and son-in-law Donald Herzig II. In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, the West Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department, or the West Essex First Aid Squad would be deeply appreciated. As Pop Pop would say, "See ya 'round like a donut!"