Reverend J. Richard Jones III (Ret.), age 81, passed away peacefully August the 25th, 2019, at Ochsner Medical Center in Jefferson, Louisiana.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, John R. Jones, Jr. (Liverpool, Lancashire, England) and Ruth Ann Catherine Steffey (Lancaster, Pennsylvania); his stepmother, Jane E. Smith (Sunbury, Pennsylvania); and his brother, Stephen.

He is survived by his wife, Alice; his daughter, Ruth Bochte and her husband, James; his son, Daniel and his wife, Cindy; his son, Timothy; and his brother, Ronald and his wife, Margie. Richard will also be missed by his grandchildren, Tessa Pearce and her husband, Mark; Nathan Jones and Carlie Jones.

John Richard Jones III was born June 1, 1938, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the West Chester Area Junior and Senior High School (now Henderson High School) in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Italy, serving as a radar operator and technician. Upon his honorable discharge from the service, Richard spent many years pursuing his education. He completed seminary at the University of Dubuque, a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963.

Richard married Alice Marie Williamson at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Andes, January 27th, 1963. Together they embarked on the adventurous journeys of serving 22 churches in 11 different states over a 42-year span before his retirement in 2005. After retirement, he served as interim pastor for the Mississippi Gulf Coast churches, First Presbyterian Church of Bay St. Louis (now Old Town Presbyterian Church), and Long Beach Presbyterian Church. With Alice, he hosted a house Bible study group in Bay St. Louis well into 2019.

Richard was known for his opinionated, fiery spirit, his passion for ministry, and his obedience and dedication to God. He had a quirky sense of humor and a ready laugh. In his adventurous younger days, he hiked up mountains and led his wife and three children on several treks across America in campers or vans. While ministering in Alabama, he also briefly ran a television repair service. In his elder days, he enjoyed eating ice-cream, using his computer, growing plants, and taking care of his cats. He was the life of the party at his favorite restaurants and at family gatherings. He and his distinctive cackle will be greatly missed.

Richard's memorial service was held at the Old Town Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi on September 7. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (mymsaa.org).