Robert E. (Bucky) Jones

Robert E. (Bucky) Jones, 92, of Harlan, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, passed away Tuesday, January 16, following a short illness. Services for Mr. Jones will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 20 at the Harlan Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour, Rev. Ronnie Hampton and Rev. Josh Haywood will officiate the services. Burial will follow in the Resthaven Cemetery at Keith, KY with Military rites being observed by the Harlan Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Patrick Miller, Jeff Miller, Preston Jones, Matthew Jones, Chase Jones, Benjamin Jones, Bryan Howard; Honorary Pallbearers will be Bob Rhea and Bob Blanton.

A native of Harlan County, Mr. Jones was an accomplished surveyor and land agent for many years prior to becoming a mine inspector with the Mine Safety and Health Administration working as a ventilation and mine rescue specialist, traveling throughout the Appalachian region conducting safety contests and training exercises.

Mr. Jones attended Hall High School in Grays Knob, KY before joining the U.S. Navy serving in the Pacific Theater aboard the destroyer USS Woodworth. While aboard the USS Woodworth, the ship earned seven bronze service stars during the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. While in service, his ship was involved in the assault and occupation of Okinawa and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The USS Woodworth was also present in Tokyo Harbor in August, 1945 as part of the fleet escorting General Douglas McArthur upon the official surrender of Japan.

Following his discharge from the service, Mr. Jones continued his education at Hall High School where he was a single-wing tailback on the school's Cumberland Valley Conference champion football team in the fall of 1946.

After high school, Mr. Jones attended Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana, where he studied drafting and architecture. He also attended Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky where he studied engineering.

Mr. Jones was active in several community endeavors including that of being a member of the Harlan Lions Club; he also served two terms as a city of Harlan councilman. Mr. Jones also served as a trustee of the Harlan Baptist Church, of which he became a member in 1955.

He was active in the Boys Scouts of America, serving as a scout master for Troop 7 working alongside Bill Johnson, Vernon Ackley, Waco Hurst, William Howard Jones, Lon Sutton, and others. He enjoyed helping area youth progress in scouting. As a youth, Mr. Jones, achieved the rank of Life Scout at his troop in Mary Helen. He was finishing requirements for the Eagle rank when he joined the Navy at the height of WWII.

Mr Jones' felt his greatest accomplishment was his family. He was the son of Myrtle Ramsey and Earl Lee Jones. He is survived by his wife Norma Selvey Jones and his brother in-law Fred F. Blair (Jo)., children : Christopher (Carolyn), Patricia Clark (Joe Bill), Rebecca, and Robert (Cathy). Surviving stepchildren are : Karen Davidson, Charla Johnson ( Willie ), Sandy McDowell – Meese (Jim). He is survived by his grandchildren : Patrick Miller ( Erica ), Jeffrey Miller( Kristen ), Preston Jones ( Elizabeth ), Chase Jones, Matthew Jones, Benjamin Jones, Sherri Clark, Terri Jo Absher (Johnny), Bryan Howard (Kim), Kara Meese. and great grandchildren : Layla, Enoch and Josiah Jones, Connor, Riley, Kaitlyn, and Sawyer Miller, Hannah Absher, Bryan Connor, Brayden Jack and Brianna Faith Howard, several nieces and nephews, and very special friends: Harold, Pat and Terry Sellers.

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his first wife Betty Ann Blair Jones, 1928-1991, and his siblings: Faye Brock, Harry Jones, Chuck Jones, Earl F. Jones.

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials to the Bluegrass Council Boy Scouts of America, 3445 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40509; Harlan Baptist Church, PO Box 883, Harlan, KY 40831; or Mary Helen United Methodist Church, 85 Circle Pine Road, Coalgood, KY 40818.

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Anderson-Laws & Jones Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Robert E. (Bucky) Jones.