Thomas Edward Jones

Lt. Colonel Thomas E. Jones was born on October 15, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia; the first of three sons, to Elsie and Tom Jones. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and attended the Jacksonville Citadel Corps of The Salvation Army with his family. During this time, he developed his love of sports, music, history, poetry and The Salvation Army, all of which would become lifelong passions.

In 1960, Tom graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He then entered the banking profession in Jacksonville, while also serving in the U.S. Army reserves. In June 1961, he married Mary Holz and together they entered The Salvation Army's School for Officers Training in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 1963.

Tom and Mary were commissioned as Salvation Army officers in June 1965 as part of the Proclaimers of the Faith session, and served in various appointments in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi, Washington, DC, North Carolina, and Virginia. In 1982, Tom was selected to attend the International College for Officers in London, England. Their final appointment was at The Salvation Army's National Headquarters where he was the National Community Relations and Development Secretary. He loved working with the National Advisory Board, and worked with them to start The Salvation Army's National Kettle Kick-off at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game halftime show.

Tom loved music and playing his trombone. During his life, he attended and was on staff at music camps all over the Southern Territory, and played in the Baltimore Area Band, the National Capital Band, the Florida Divisional Band, and the Southern Territorial Band for many years. He also loved sports; playing softball, tennis, golf and basketball; and watching the New York Yankees and Florida Gators play. He could tell you almost any statistic or score from any team to ever play. And if you were in one of his bands or worked with him, you learned all the player's numbers and "who pulled the only unassisted triple play in World Series history". He had an amazing memory and knew practically all the tune book numbers to all the songs in The Salvation Army Songbook.

In 2004, Tom and Mary retired and moved to Clearwater, Florida. Tom continued to work in retirement, both with the Board of Visitors and the Clearwater Corps, helping to strengthen the advisory board and The Salvation Army in the community. He also enjoyed playing his trombone with the Clearwater Corps Band and the SAROA (Salvation Army Retired Officers Association) Band, as well as leading the SAROA Band.

Tom Jones was a fourth generation Salvationist, and loved The Salvation Army and the Lord with all his heart and soul. He wanted his life to count, and to make a difference in the world, and in the lives of all those he met along the way, and he certainly accomplished that with his care and compassion and interest in others. We will miss him dearly.

His survivors include his wife of 62 years, Mary; and his daughters Ellen Jones and Natalie Jones; his son David Jones and grandson Parker Thomas Jones; as well as 2 brothers, Bruce Jones (Pamm) and Keith Jones; and 3 sisters-in-law, Linda Holz, Paxon Holz and Christine Goodier (Bob); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.