RIP, Peter H. Jones, USMA 1970, H1
Jones, Peter Howze
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2015 7:09 am
Peter Howze Jones, of Vinton, Va., passed away on Monday, May 11, 2015. Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., on January 23, 1948, he was the son of Henry and Nancy Jones, and is survived by his wife, Betsy; children, Melissa Jones (Howard Schur), Elliot Jones (Marin Lorenson), Katrina Choi (Sam Choi), Katya Jones, Olga Jones, and siblings, Chris Jones (Carol), Debbie Roush (Michael), and Judy Wolf (Winston);and seven grandchildren.
Peter grew up in Wyncote, Pa., near Philadelphia, and graduated from Wyncote High School in 1965. He attended Virginia Military Institute for one year, and then went on to four years at the United States Military Academy (West Point), graduating in 1970, following a long line of West Point graduates in his family. He served his country for 30 years (six years in active duty, 24 in the Army Reserve), retiring in 2000 as a Colonel. During his active duty he served in the Vietnam War from 1971-1972, and as a Battalion Commander during Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Iraq in 1990-1991. Peter was an equally accomplished businessman, finishing his career as President of U.S. manufacturing company, WEXCO.
Peter met Betsy during his freshman year at West Point and they married on June 7, 1970. Together they raised six children and lived in 10 states as Peter pursued his military and business careers. Peter accomplished much success in military and business, but was very proud of his recent work as a full-time volunteer at Second Helpings and the Roanoke Rescue Mission.
Peter loved hiking through the Blue Ridge Mountains, loved his church, his work at the Mission, and his family. Our hearts are heavy with his loss - we will miss him greatly.
Peter will be remembered at a memorial service at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 2015 at the Blacksburg Christian Fellowship Church, 2300 North Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060 and interred later this summer at West Point.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those wishing to honor Peter's memory consider making a charitable donation in Peter's name or send a cherished story about Peter to betsycjones@aol.com.
