Funeral services for Richard Owen Jones will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, with Cmdr. Fred Renfroe, CHC, USN (Ret.) officiating. Cremation will follow with private family inurnment to be held at a later date.

Richard O. Jones, 81, died Dec. 5, 2002, at Whidbey General Hospital He was born Feb. 19, 1921, in Detroit to Clarence Owen and Margorie Ruth (Saxton) Jones.

Cmdr. Jones was raised in the Detroit area, where he graduated from high school. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering. After college, Dick was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. He was married to the former Muriel E. McCarty on Sept. 25, 1943. He began his career at Camp Perry, Va., then moved on to Quanset Point, R.I. He was sent to Troy, N.Y., and Rensselaer Poly Technic Institute, where he completed his master’s degree.

The Navy sent Dick to the Philippine Islands, Elizabeth City, N.C., the Pentagon and then to NAS Whidbey Island. His career continued on to Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Okinawa and Pier 91 in Seattle, where he retired as a commander. On the same day he retired, his son Michael was accepted to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

Richard returned to civilian life and accepted the position of superintendent of water and sewer for the Department of Public Works in Livonia, Mich. He spent 20 years in Livonia, returning to Oak Harbor in 1984. He loved fishing, golf, wood working and playing the violin and organ.

Cmdr. Jones is survived by his wife Muriel E. “Sally” Jones at the family home, Oak Harbor; by six children: Leslie and Philip Mansell of Mill Creek, Michael and Karen Jones of Oak Harbor; Joanne and Rodger Swanson of Bothell; Pete and Suzanne Jones of Macungie, Pa.; Julie and Glenn Bauer of Orchard Lake, Mich., and Jonas and Cara Jones of Atlanta, Ga. Two sisters, Eleanor Schwartz of Homeland, Calif., and Audrey Jones of Detroit, 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren also survive.

Memorials may be made to the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, 3150 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 122, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005-1090. Arrangements are by Burley Funeral Chapel. This obituary may be seen at http://burley.plan4ever.com.