Gary R. Jones

Gary R. Jones, age 77, of Carlisle died suddenly on Monday, December 30, 2019, at his residence. For the past several years, Gary valiantly battled ALS, refusing to allow the disease to take away his spirit or his independence and surpassing all expectations of quality or length of life following the initial diagnosis.
Gary was born on June 13, 1942, in Bedford, PA, to the late Charles S. and Marjorie V. Calhoun Jones. He was a 1960 graduate of Bedford High School, where he was a District Wrestling Champion and co-captain of the wrestling squad. He went on to excel as a varsity wrestler and student at Millersville University, graduating with a bachelors degree before moving on to the University of Delaware where he earned a master’s degree in education and pursued doctoral studies.
Gary spent his career in education, teaching and/or leading reading curriculums for Lancaster and Carlisle area schools, Scotland School, Wilson College, the U.S. Army War College, and Big Spring School District, where he retired as an administrator in 2007. He also spent a brief stint as representative for the textbook company Bell & Howell.
Known for his engaging personality and easy conversation, Gary made friends wherever he went. From his close friends and colleagues to cashiers at local stores, he could and would talk to anyone and thrived in social settings. He took the time to get to know people and would often gift friends, family, and acquaintances with special mementos he knew would be meaningful to them.
For Gary, sports were the fabric of his being. He enjoyed competing as an athlete, coaching high school and college wrestling, volunteering with the Carlisle High School Athletic Booster Club supporting his children in their athletic endeavors, and watching sports with his son. As a young child, he was the bat boy for the St. Louis Cardinals during spring training in Florida, providing him the opportunity to spend time with some of the baseball greats, including Stan Musial. He shared his love of baseball with his family and friends, spending countless hours with his wife, children, and nephew at Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia and Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. It’s no surprise to anyone that Gary somehow managed to befriend several players from the San Diego Padres, affording his family with opportunities to spend time on the field and in the dugouts on more than one occasion. Later on, as his disease progressed, his good friend Clint Hurdle invited him to be his special guest at several Pittsburgh Pirates games, memories he was thrilled to share with his children, son-in-law, grandson, cousin, and special friends.
Gary was an avid reader and collector of sports memorabilia and enjoyed watching war documentaries and classic television shows and movies, particularly from the 40s and 50s. He was a member of The Meeting House church in Carlisle and loved spending time in the sun at the beach and the Carlisle Swim Club. He had many passions, but none greater than his family.
Gary is survived by his wife, Phyllis E. Shoemaker Jones; two daughters, Carolyn I. Staffieri (husband, John) of Lititz and Kelly R. Rimmer (husband, Jared) of Dillsburg; one son, Aaron D. Jones of Carlisle; a brother, Robert G. Jones of Lees Summit, MO; four grandchildren, Abigail C. Barstow (husband, Seth), Nathan J. Staffieri, Hannah G. Grant, and Hayden N. Rimmer; three great-grandchildren, William R., Daniel C., and Audrey Barstow; several nieces and nephews, and countless friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Charles C. Jones, and his grandson, Chase A. Jones.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at 12:00 noon in the Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2002 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA, with Pastor Alan Robinson officiating. There will be visitation at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gary’s name may be made to The Meeting House, 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle, PA, 17015 or www.tmh.church/giving/ or the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA, 19002 or webpa.alsa.org.