David Franklin Jones

COPPELL -- David Franklin Jones, age 88, passed away Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Funeral: 11 a.m. Friday at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington. Interment: 1:15 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wade Family Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Ransom Jones, David Jones, Jeff Jones, Kevin Jones, James Sleutel, Steve Glidewell, Danny Hodges, Eric Bell. David Jones was born April 3, 1923, in Midland to William Russell Jones and Cora Carolyn Castellaw Jones. He graduated from high school in Jal, N.M. He entered the Navy in January 1941. His distinguished military service included fighting his way from Pearl Harbor through the invasion of Okinawa. He saw action at the Battle of Coral Sea, Midway, Leyte Gulf, Komandorski Islands, Kwajalein, and Saipan. He is recognized as one of the youngest first class boatswain's mates in U.S. Naval history. Upon concluding his service to our country, he owned a successful butane and gas business in Colorado. In the late 1950s, he was one of the original founders of Evans and Black Carpet Mills, which is currently a division of Shaw Industries. He then moved on to establish his own carpet business in El Paso, and remained until his retirement. He married Mary Ella Maeger in 1963, and they celebrated their 48th anniversary in April 2011. He was an avid sports fan, coached youth baseball, enjoyed bowling, and especially loved to fly fish in Colorado. He had an abiding love of family and faith in God. He will be remembered by all who knew him. Survivors: Beloved wife, Mary Ella Maeger Jones; daughter Dr. Karen Jones Green; sons, David Norman Jones, Ransom Bert Jones, Jeffrey Frank Jones, Robert Kevin Jones; daughter, Staci Anne Jones Bell; his 16 grandchildren, Bryan Jones, Lance Howard, Steven Jones, Dr. Kory Jones, James Michael Jones, Christopher Jones, Alexandra Jones, Bradley Marek, Jordan Jones, Lindsey Bell, Shelby Jones, Taylor Jones, Cohen Bell, Connor Bell, Alexa Jones, Tori Jones; and great-grandchildren, Natalia, Gabriel, Lilly, Jade, Malcolm, May and Carsyn.