CARIBOU – USAF Lt. Col. Melbern R. Jones Sr., retired, 86, died Sunday, June 18, 2006, after a short illness, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Feb. 18, 1920, in Chicago, the son of Robert and Emma (Koch) Jones. He was an alumnae of Chicago Institute of Technology and received a bachelor of science in business administration from Ricker College. He was married to Elizabeth “Betty” MacDonald for 58 years, who predeceased him in 2005. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II and continued onto a military career as a pilot in the Air Force. He traveled worldwide during his years in the service and regaled his family with stories of his myriad exploits. Dedicated to public service, he worked as the director of the USO and as a supervisor for the state of Maine, after he retired from the Air Force. Throughout the years, he was involved in various political and civic organizations. He is survived by sons, Robert W. and wife, Jill, of Caribou, Melbern Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Fort Fairfield; daughter, Lisa Jones of Bangor; four grandchildren, Marcie Horne, Ryan McDowell, Marie Jones and Andrew Jones; six-great-grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and numerous great-stepgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, June 22, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with the Rev. David Raymond celebrant. Friends may call 10 a.m. until time of service at the Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover St., Caribou. A military committal will take place at the Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery in Caribou. A reception will be held at the parish center after the committal.
MELBERN ROBERT JONES SR.
