| Graduation Year | Class of 1969 |
| Date of Birth | Jul 26, 1951 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 11, 2025 |
| About | Harley T. "Terry" Jones, 73, passed away on February 11th in Chon Buri, Thailand from injuries received in a motorcycle accident on December 27th in Pattaya, Thailand. He was born July 26, 1951, in Marion, the son of Clifford E. and Jessie I. (Hudkins) Jones. A 1969 graduate of River Valley High School, he played trumpet in the school band and was a member of the baseball team. After graduation, he worked on the Erie Lackawanna RR as a brakeman on the Mansfield freight run. Harley married Karen Ann Ware of Marion on April 3, 1971, in Dale County, AL. They divorced in 1973 but remained friends. A Vietnam War veteran, Harley served as a CWO2 with the U.S. Army, 1970-74. After earning his wings as a helicopter pilot, he was stationed with the 175th Assault Helicopter Co., Vinh Long, RVN, 1971-72, flying Hueys, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He was recalled to active duty, 1977-79, serving as a Cobra attack pilot with "A" Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regt.,101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. After leaving the Army, Harley was employed as a pilot in a variety of flying positions around the world including air taxi's, powerline weed spraying, logging, offshore petroleum fields, and air ambulances in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Louisiana, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In 1991 Harley returned to Marion where he pursued a variety of endeavors including woodworking and carpentry, before retiring in 2014 to travel and live in the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. Harley was a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and a former member of American Legion Post 584 and VFW Post 7201, both of Marion. Surviving are a companion, Jiraporn Saisan, Pattaya; son Mark A. Jones, York, PA; two brothers, Clifton E (Judy) Jones, Pensacola, FL and Thomas R. Jones, Raymore, MO; one sister, Mrs. Timothy R. (Jennifer) Kavanagh, Collins, MO; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Howard L. Jones, a nephew, a niece and a grandnephew. According to Harley's wishes, a Buddhist funeral ceremony was conducted locally in Boon Samphan temple, Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, Thailand. Published in The Marion Star, Marion, OH, 24 Feb 2025, PG 4A. ____________________________________________________ Terry's cremains were received by the Dayton National Cemetery during a Committal ceremony performed with military honors on September 18, 2026. |
