Vernon Alan Jones

Vernon Alan Jones, age 74, of Cocoa Beach, FL, formerly of Manassas, VA, passed away late Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, FL. He was born September 23, 1942 in Washington, DC, the son of Stewart Lewis Jones and Anna Mae Virginia (Cross) Jones. The family moved to Brentsville, VA when he was a youth. Vernon attended Manassas schools, where he played football and was a track team member. He graduated from Osbourn High School in 1962 and worked with his father until serving in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968. During his years of service, he became a Crew Chief on B-52 bombers and was assigned to several air bases, including Guam for runs over Viet Nam and at a number of domestic Strategic Air Command bases. After his Air Force service, Vernon worked for C&P Telephone company for a number of years, and then moved to AT&T, where he became an Information Systems and Functional Business Manager. In 1983 he started his own business, Northern Virginia Telephone Company, and he remained President and CEO after 1990 when it became United Telephone Company. After his retirement in 1995, he performed consulting work over a number of years for government contractors providing technical design, evaluation, and analysis of telecommunications systems at various locations, including several FAA sites and airports around the country. After completing his consulting work, Vernon moved to Charleston, SC, for a number of years prior to his move to Cape Canaveral, FL. He lived in Cocoa Beach, FL, at the time of his passing. Florida was paradise for Vernon, and he basked in the sunshine and warm weather. He played golf frequently and enjoyed relaxing at the local restaurants. He loved dancing to bands playing 1960's music, but also was very fond of classical jazz and the music of crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. He was an accomplished chef and loved entertaining friends, and was a team member in a 9-ball pool league. Vernon was also an accomplished self-taught artist, and loved showing visitors his paintings hung on the walls throughout his home. He was a life-long Washington Redskins fan, and always felt great disappointment when his team lost a game. Vernon dearly loved his children and grandchildren, and looked forward to every Christmas as he would shop for the grandchildren so they would have a special gift from their PopPop. Vernon was preceded in death by his son, Marc Gunnar Jones, in 2008. He is survived by his wife, Carole (Kriesel) Jones; one son, Vernon Alan Jones II and wife Kristen; two step-children, Kristin Morrison and husband Eric, and John Fulcher and wife Kristen; and nine grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, December 28, 2016, at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 29, 2016, with Pastor Jeff Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Stonewall Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his memory be made to Shriners Hospital for Sick Children.

Vernon Alan Jones

September 23, 1942 - December 20, 2016