Lawrence James Jones, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2017 at Rome Memorial Hospital.
Larry was born in Little Falls, NY on August 25, 1921 to the late George H and Louise Garlock Jones. He graduated from Little Falls High School, continued his education at Deerfield Academy and received a degree in physics from Williams College. After college, he went to
Northwestern Midshipman School and entered the US Navy during WWII. He served 2 ½ years as a Lieutenant in the Pacific theater with the Naval Amphibious Forces aboard APA 28 USS Charles Carroll.
Upon returning home, Larry worked at Gilbert Knitting Company in Little Falls from 1946 to
1949. While in Little Falls, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Newitt. They were united in marriage on September 11, 1948. Soon afterwards, they moved to Rome and Larry joined Bill
Caswell and Don Jones as Owner/Operators of Caswell Supply, a business he eventually co-owned and operated with his son until his retirement in 1984.
Larry always had an inquisitive mind; he built an enlarger and darkroom at age 14 so he could develop all of his photos. In his late teens, he built a diving mask from an inverted paint bucket and outfitted it with a glass mask, a two way radio and air pump; he used this to retrieve outboards and props at Piseco Lake where he spent many summers. Other hobbies included sailing, skiing, tennis, camping, oil painting and computers.
In 1970 Larry and Lynn purchased a camp on Brantingham Lake which became a favorite place for the ever enlarging family to meet every summer. Family was very important to both Larry and Lynn and “Camp” provided the location of many celebrations and wonderful memories. He and Lynn also enjoyed many years of travel in their RV, traversing the country from Alaska to Mexico. In later years, they spent winters in Corkscrew Woodlands, Florida. He served on many boards, often as treasurer, including Little Falls Country Club, Lake Delta Yacht Club, Lake Delta School Board, Lake Delta Fire Department, First Presbyterian Church of Rome and Lake Delta Kiwanis. He was a member of Teugega Country Club and Brantingham Lake Association.
Survivors include his loving wife of 68 years, Lynn, children Deborah (George) Reifenstein, Betsy (John) McMahon, L. James “Jamo” (Rose) Jones, Andrea Jones and his son-in-law, William Riley; grandchildren Ami Reifenstein (Scott Gende), Heidi Reifenstein (Wayne Leighty), Peter Reifenstein, John (Carrie) McMahon, Ryan McMahon, Brenda (Ian) Tallman, Jessica(Matt) Norton, Michael Riley, Jason Riley and Kevin Riley. Great-grandchildren include Gavin and Tatum Gende, Felix and Ilyana Leighty, Taylor Simons, John McMahon, Chloe, Aberle and Bodhi Norton. He was predeceased by a daughter, Judith Riley, and siblings Donald Jones and Dorothy Caswell.
A memorial service with military honors will be held on Sunday, July 23 at 2 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Rome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168,
Boston, MA 02284-9168 or online at danafarber.org/give in memory of his beloved daughter,
Judith Aberle Riley.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street.
Please offer online condolences at: www.BarryFuneralHome.com.
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