Fred Wiley Jones

September 20, 1947 - December 28, 2024

Fred Wiley Jones passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, December 28th, at his home in Rocky Gap, VA. Born on September 20, 1947, in Welch, WV, he was the son of the late Earl Tuggle Jones Sr. and Anna Maye Deerfield Jones of Welch, WV.

Fred graduated from Welch High School and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Fred was known as the "Fox" for his cunning at poker at the Academy. After earning his commission in 1969 he chose Naval Air and was so good he served as a flight instructor at Pensacola, Fla and B-Ville, Texas during the Vietnam War. Following active duty, he continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserves I while pursuing a career as a commercial pilot with Delta Airlines, retiring in 1998. Upon retirement, Fred spent his remaining years at "The Cabins," his beloved property in Rocky Gap, VA, which has been cherished by his family since the early 1900s. Fred loved the physical work to personally maintain the property repairing bridges, dams, cutting firewood, and maintaining trails. When he needed help with the work he often hired and mentored locals in need of a job and getting their lives on track. His wife joined him on the property in 2006, and they shared many happy years there.

Fred is survived by his devoted wife of 39 years, Genevieve Estrada of Rocky Gap, VA; Genevieve's son, Lance Ritchie, and wife, Hang Du, of Middlebury, VT; her daughter, Regan (Ritchie) and husband, Iain Emmons, of Waldport, OR; and her nephew, Mac Erwin, and wife, Kuniko Nakamura-Erwin, of Tokyo, Japan, and Rocky Gap, VA. Fred is also survived by his brother, Mark Wenger Jones and wife Prissy Jones of Princeton, WV, his nephews Dathan Jones and Charlie Sparks; his nieces Tisha Hicks, Lisa Rogers-Coleman, Valerie Connell, Laura Kresal, and Leigh-Ann Beamer, as well as numerous cousins and friends.

A time of sharing will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, January 3, 2025, from the Chapel of Memorial Funeral Directory and Cremation Center on the Athens Road in Princeton. Military rites will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 P.M. until the service hour at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared via www.memorialfd.com . The Jones family is being served by the Memorial Funeral Directory on the Athens Road in Princeton.