Dennis S. Jones, Jr. - Obituary

ennis Sanchez Jones, Jr., 82, of Crofton, MD, died unexpectedly on March 4, 2024. Known to his family as "D," he was born in Portsmouth, VA, on February 26, 1942, to the late Dennis S. Jones, Sr., and Elizabeth Manning Jones. Dennis had a lifelong love for the ocean and felt most at peace walking on the beach. He enjoyed sailing, rowing, and all boating activities. An accomplished musician, he played classical and flamenco guitar and fondly remembered sharing his talents with others in a folk band during his college years. His children have happy childhood memories of him strumming guitar and singing classic folk songs. Through his photography, he captured the beauty of the natural world and the people he loved. In his later years, he volunteered for environmental causes and humanitarian efforts, such as supporting refugee camps. He strived to leave the world a better place for future generations. A graduate of Georgetown University, Dennis served in the Coast Guard before embarking on a diverse career that included real estate, marketing, and sales. He was proud of his decades of work supporting his local volunteer fire department. Dennis prided himself on being fiercely independent and true to his principles and convictions. He had a boundless curiosity for current events, philosophy, sustainability, social issues, and technology. He never shied away from challenging subjects and was happy to engage in conversation on virtually any topic. Always ready for any scenario, he was affectionately known as an emergency preparedness and self-sufficiency enthusiast. Dennis celebrated the accomplishments of his children, whom he called his greatest joy in life. He treasured gatherings with his grandchildren and reunions with his extended family. Dennis was always up for a drive to see his family and ready to provide rides to help people out. He lived with humor, conviction, passion, and loyalty. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his ex-wife and mother of three of his children, Martha B. Hague, with whom he maintained a close friendship. Dennis is survived by his children, Allison MacDonald Scopelliti, Laura Jones, Adrianne (Jones) Gruner, Matthew Jones, and Kaitlin Hague, whom he cherished as his own. He will also be deeply missed by his sister, Denise (Jones) Werner-Hansen; brother, Jack R. Jones; and his four adored grandchildren, Isaiah, Emmett, Elliott, and Nathan. Dennis' life and legacy can be honored by living fully, embracing knowledge and learning, engaging with loved ones and the community, and making the world a better place through acts of kindness and a commitment to our own authentic paths. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Dennis' life at the Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD, on Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 3, with a time for sharing and remembrances at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention. Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the Memories tab located on the left side of this page.