Robert Richard Jones

Robert Richard “Bob” Jones passed away on May 14, 2025, in Prescott, Arizona. He was 77 years old.

Bob was born on August 29, 1947, the son of Devoe and Annie Frances Jones, formerly of Tie Plant, Mississippi. He was the middle child of five brothers—TW, JD, Mike, and Jimmy Jones—and he deeply cherished his bond with each of them. Bob was preceded in death by his brother TW.

Bob was a devoted father to Kevin Jones and Elisabeth Bergt, and a proud grandfather to Lucas, Toby, and Colin Jones. Being a father brought him great joy, and he spoke of Kevin and Elisabeth with love and pride every chance he got.

Bob’s last years were spent in the mountain town of Prescott, Arizona. His caring community of neighbors provided meaningful support as he quietly navigated ongoing health challenges. Bob spent over a year under the compassionate care of the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Prescott VA Medical Center. With their support—and his own unwavering determination—he was able to regain his independence and spent the last eight months living on his own once again, accompanied by his beloved dog, Marty.

Many may not have known that Bob suffered from severe PTSD, the result of combat during his service in Vietnam. He was a member of the highly decorated 337th Security Forces stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Known as one of the toughest combat units in the Air Force, Bob wore his service with quiet pride. Although he didn’t always display it outwardly, he was honored to be part of that elite team. Bob remained under care for PTSD throughout his life. He also stayed closely connected with his lifelong friends from his service days, cherishing those bonds through the years. His companion dogs, first Lucy and later Marty, helped him find a sense of calm.

Bob’s experiences in Vietnam were recognized by the Library of Congress, where he was interviewed about his service. While he humbly said it wasn’t “a great story,” he found value in sharing it.

Bob was a longtime board member of the Salvation Army in Glendale, Arizona, and also supported Habitat for Humanity. Whether donating to charities or helping strangers at the grocery store, Bob believed in “random acts of kindness” and always lent a hand when he saw someone in need.

A lifelong baseball enthusiast, Bob had a passion for umpiring and reached one of the highest levels in the state of Arizona, serving as one of only 50 certified college umpires. He took immense pride in his role and the relationships he built—meeting legendary umpires such as Doug Harvey (Hall of Fame) and Gary Darling (multiple World Series). As Bob liked to say, “Not bad company for a country boy.” He especially loved umpiring with his son Kevin and never passed up a chance to debate who should be behind the plate. For him, those games were always about fun and connection.

Bob will be laid to rest with military honors at the National Cemetery in Phoenix, on June 23rd at 11am. “I Did it My Way,” by Frank Sinatra will be played at Bob’s request.

In place of flowers, we kindly invite you to honor Bob’s memory with a donation to one of the causes he deeply cared about: Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org) or K9s For Warriors (www.k9sforwarriors.org).