SSGT Walter Lee Jones, Jr., USAF - Obituary

alter Lee Jones Jr. (Rocky) was born November 8, 1930 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co. Alabama to the late Walter Jones Sr. and Ida Belle Thomas Jones. He was one of nine children born to this union. He accepted Christ at a young age at the New Salem Baptist Church in Birmingham and attended A.H. Parker High School. As a teenager he worked shining shoes and as a pin setter(yes this used to be done by hand) at the local bowling alley. On December 23, 1950, Walter wed Ida Mae Clark and were married for 59 years. 6 children were born to this union. Walter enlisted in the United States Airforce in 1951 serving his country in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a Crypto Equipment System Technician. Walter was relied on heavily for his expertise as a Cryptographer and worked on Airforce One for several presidents. He loved telling the story of the time he shook hands with President Nixon. In 1965, Walter was last stationed at Andrews Airforce Base where he worked with the 2045th Communications Gr. (AFCS) until his retirement in 1971. He then worked and retired from Vitro Laboratories in Wheaton Maryland as an Electronics Technician. Never one to sit still, Walter worked as a ticket agent with Ticketmaster at the Capital Centre in Landover before joining the Washington Nationals ball club until the age of 85 when he retired due to illness. He was fond of recounting how he was honored with a luncheon and tickets behind home plate for selling over $5,000 worth of tickets in one day. Walter, nicknamed “Bugs” by his mother in law, the late Susie Mae Clark, had a love for fishing and playing cards, with Pinochle being his game of choice. And while Walter enjoyed fishing and cards, his real passion was singing. He sang with several local choirs including the Maryland Choral Society, Andrews Airforce Base Chapel One choir. AAFB Chapel 2 Gospel Choir, and the Fort Washington Community Choir. He performed for several years in the Independence Day concerts at Fort Washington Park and performed Handel’s Messiah at The Kennedy Center. Walter was preceded in his homegoing by his wife, Ida Mae Jones, a daughter, Iris Jones, his brothers, William, Nathaniel, Elwin and Wallace Jones and sisters, Catherine DeForrest, Patricia Cannon, and Sylvia Quinn. He was also preceded in death by his close and dear friend Marilyn Knight and fondest niece Joy DeForrest. Walter leaves to celebrate his life, his sons, Victor Jones, Gregory Jones, Walter Keith Jones and Alexis, A.D.,Jones, and daughter Vanessa Walker (Drew) Tucker. Walter also leaves to cherish his memory, his sister, Doris Bullock of Fayetteville N.C. and sisters in law, Leola Watts and Cleola Crawford of Lansing Michigan and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter, Juliet Walker along with many friends. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. until the start of the Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Interment with military honors immediately following at Maryland Veterans Cemetery- Cheltenham, 11301 Crain Hwy., Cheltenham, MD 20623 at 1:45 p.m.