Robert Griffin Jones, 86, Zion United Methodist Church

Born July 6, 1915 in Lorain, where he was raised and graduated from Lorain High School. He had lived in Lorain for the past 30 years.

Robert graduated from Kent State University with a teaching degree. Teaching for the Lorain school system and retiring from the Warren Department of Education after 37 years teaching Jr. High School. He attended Zion Luthern Church, Lorain, and was a 50 year member of the Lorain Masonic Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European African Middle Eastern theater with the Battery B of the 93rd Armored Cavalry as a tank commander. He received a purple heart, an European African Middle Eastern theater ribbon with 5 bronze stars and one arrowhead and also a good conduct medal. Some of the major campaigns he fought were Naples Foggia, Rome Arno, South France. Rhineland and Central Europe. He was an avid sports fan.

Survivors include his wife of 10 years, Virginia Mae (nee Schmidkons) Jones.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Jones; his parents, J.P. and Rachel (nee Jones) Powell; his brother Herbert Jones and John Jones.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Hempel Funeral Home; 373 Cleveland Ave. Amherst with the Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard holding special services. The Rev. Bill Seith, pastor of Zion United Methodist Church of Elyria, will officiate. A private burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain.

Memorial contributions may be to Zion United Methodist Church; 43720 Telegraph Rd., Elyria, OH 44053.