Mr. James F. Jones

James Frederick “Fred” Jones, 90, of Lady Lake, Florida, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, in Lady Lake, Florida. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, son of the late Leroy Hecht Jones and Dorothy Manners Hunt Jones. He attended Lander College in South Carolina where he met his future bride, Barbara Theophanis. After getting an undergraduate degree in Music, he served honorably in the US Army in Germany. He then obtained a graduate degree in Library Science and worked as a Librarian and then Assistant Director of Technical Services at the Florida State University Strozier Library. They resided in Tallahassee for over 60 years. Fred and Barbara had a welcoming home, were devoted to their children and grandchildren and sought opportunities to develop relationships with extended family all over the world. They regularly invited friends and family to their Tallahassee home to play bridge and other games and to enjoy delicious foods and desserts. Fred and Barbara, who jokingly referred to themselves as the “Royal We”, travelled to visit relatives in Greece, and after retirement, other destinations around the world. Fred was devoted to wife and family, loved classical music and opera, took long walks in nature, and was a life-long learner. He was an avid fan of FSU baseball. Later in life he sought to champion health and environmental policy for the betterment of society. Fred is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Theophanis Jones; children, Theodore “Ted” Jones (Susan), Dorothy Jones Moat (Jack) and Michael “Mike” Jones (Glenda); grandchildren, Sarah Jones, Tom Jones, Sonia Jones, Sean Jones (Kelly), Titus Jones (Katie), Daniel Jones (MaryBeth), Serena Jones, Travis Jones (Erika) and David Jones; great-grandchildren, Ayla Jones, Elias Jones, Ian Jones, and his soon to arrive great-grandson, Cooper Jones; brother, Leroy Ellsworth Jones; nieces, Victoria “Vickie” Jones Southworth (Dan), Katherine “Kathi” Jones Dobson (Tom, deceased) and Nadia Theophanis Katopis (Petros); nephews, Eric Jones (Penny), Greg Jones, Randolph “Randy” Jones, Thanos Theophanis (Barbara); and other beloved relatives. Fred was preceded in death by a brother, Barry Hunt Jones. Visitation starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday January 21, 2023 at Abbey Funeral Home, followed by an indoor service at 11:00 AM and a graveside committal afterwards in the adjacent Tallahassee Memory Gardens, Garden of the Christus. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Saint Francis Wildlife Association at www.stfranciswildlife.org. Online condolences may be expressed at www.abbeyfh.com.

Mr. James F. Jones

April 29, 1932 - January 4, 2023