NO. 17983 | 12 May 1926 - 30 Nov 1991
Died in Boynton Beach, FL
Interred in Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, FL
Clarence Quentin "Zeke" Jones, Jr.was born to the Reverend Clarence Jones and Mrs. Lois Jones in Sullivan, KY. Prior to receiving an appointment to West Point, he attended Mercer University in Georgia and Northeastern College in Oklahoma.
As a cadet, Zeke was a member of several clubs, including the Railroad Club, French Club, and Weight Lifting Club. He also was a member of the Handball Club and the Radio Club. Classmates remember his cooperative spirit and unselfish attitude.
After graduation in 1950, Zeke was immediately sent to Korea. Upon his return to the States, he was assigned to the 469th Field Artillery Battalion in Ft. Sill, OK, In 1954, he was sent to the Ordnance Section of Headquarters, Seventh Army, Germany, as an assistant operations officer.
In 1957, Zeke was a student in the Advanced Officers Course in Ordnance in Aberdeen, MD. From 1958 to 1961, he served as the chief of the manufacturing branch at Watervliet Arsenal, NY. During this time, he was able to complete his masters degree in business at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute.
From 1961 to 1962, Zeke returned to Germany, where he was a materials officer with Headquarters, 71st Ordnance Battalion, Stuttgart, Germany. Next, he was controller and assistant operations officer, Ordnance Section, Headquarters Seventh Army, Germany, until 1964, when he was assigned as an executive officer to the 701st Maintenance Battalion, Ft. Riley, KS. In 1966, Zeke went to Viet Nam as an executive officer, Support Command, 1st Infantry Division. In April of that year, he received the Commendation Medal. On 29 Oct 1965 and 17 Sep 1966, Zeke was awarded the Bronze Star.
Zeke's last assignment before retiring was with the U.S./Federal Republic of Germany Main Battle Tank Program in Washington, DC, as chief of Plans and International Operations. On 31 May 1970, after 20 years of service, Zeke retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In retirement, Zeke pursued other careers. From 1970 to 1972, he served as the city manager of Boynton Beach, FL, where he continued to live the rest of his life. A few years later, he became an executive with Coulter Electronics, a company that developed medical equipment. He stayed with Coulter Electronics for ten years.
Zeke retired again, but not for long. He soon found that he loved teaching, so he then taught accounting at several local business colleges. He got along very well with his students and often invited them for weekends at his home on the lake. Both he and Betsy enjoyed this very much.
Zeke loved the Florida lifestyle. His home was on the water, enabling him to indulge his passion for fishing. He loved observing the stars and even made his own telescope. He was an avid camper and beach lover. Zeke was a member of the Palm Beach Biking club, but he was probably best known as being a devout member of his church. It was the most important part of his life, and when he passed away, seven different pastors spoke at his funeral.
Zeke was a wonderful husband to Betsy and father to Jere, Julie, and Lois. In addition to his wife Betsy, he is survived by ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
At the time of his death, Zeke was near completion of his course work for his doctorate in geology from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.
He is greatly missed by his family and his community.
-- Jere White