James Edward Jones, 72, of Chippewa Twp. Pennsylvania, formerly of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, went to the Lord on November 3, 2024, at AHN Wexford Hospital in Wexford, Pennsylvania, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Born in 1952 in Glassport, Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late Rodger and Olivia (Welsh) Jones of McKeesport. A graduate of McKeesport Area Senior High School, Jim received an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Penn State – McKeesport in 1989.
He was a veteran of the Air Force and Navy, serving as an avionics technician, working on various electronic systems for the Navy. After 14 years of active duty, he also had 11 years of reserve service, primarily with the Navy Reserves. He was very proud of his military service.
He retired from First Energy Corporation in 2019, having worked at the Beaver Valley Power Station as an advanced nuclear engineering specialist for 31 years.
Jim has been a board member of Best Friends, Inc.: The Children’s Friendship Network since 2006, serving as Vice President for the last sixteen years. He cared deeply about young people with disabilities and enjoyed supporting their social events.
Jim was an inveterate animal lover and enjoyed the companionship of many dogs and cats over the years. He liked to wear shirts with dog sayings and loved to tell stories about his previous pets and his encounters with giraffes, alpacas, and “doggie friends” that he met along the way.
Jim loved music and liked to play the guitar, especially with his friend Guy Cekala. He also enjoyed church music. Jim was a member of St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church in Beaver Falls. He loved God with all his heart and loved his family and his special church friends: Fr. John (of blessed memory) and Irene Sidor, his fellow veteran Fr. Steven Shaheen, Fr. Andrew Clarke, and Mat. Martha Nakajima. He was very loving and always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Lawrence, Robert, William, and sister Ann Neugebauer. Surviving are his sisters Joyce (Michael) Walker of Williamsport, PA, Diane (Lee) Graft of Port Vue, PA, Carol Trust of North Versailles Twp., PA, Ruth (Daniel) Hodges, Wendy (David) Taylor, both of McKeesport, PA, his brother Rodger (Nancy) Jones of East Palestine, OH, dear nephew Donovan, and countless nieces and nephews.
In addition, he is survived by his long-time companion Jan Clarke and her son Victor Clarke and their Boston Terrier Diamond. Jim’s love of guitar inspired Victor to become a musician himself, and the two bonded over countless concert road trips.
The Orthodox Christian funeral service for Jim will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6 at St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church (1501 Eighth Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010; 724-847-1111). Friends will be received at the church from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. before the service. The funeral will be conducted by Fr. Seraphim Moslener and Fr. Steven Shaheen.
Interment with military honors will take place at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies (1158 Morgan Rd., Bridgeville, PA 15017; phone 724-746-4363) on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. The Samuel Teolis Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Jim’s favorite charities: Best Friends Inc., The Children’s Friendship Network (P.O. Box 1604, Beaver Falls, PA 15010), the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration (321 Monastery Ln., Ellwood City, PA 16117), or St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church (1501 Eighth Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010).
Jan Clarke wishes to remember and thank Dr. Scott Vargo, Dr. Raghukumar Thirumala, Dr. David Buchanan, Jim’s other physicians at Allegheny Health Network, and the intensivists and nurses at AHN Wexford Hospital for the phenomenal and compassionate care that Jim received.
Jim’s arrangements are entrusted to the care of Samuel Teolis Funeral Home (309 Spring Ave., Ellwood City, PA 16117; phone 724-758-3222; teolisfuneralhome.com).
Jim will be greatly missed by his family and friends. May his memory be eternal in the kingdom of Heaven!
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