Obituary for George Jones Sr.
Let’s talk about a boy who had a smile that stretched ear to ear. A boy that turned into a man as strong as an ox and a man whose heart was as big as the moon. George Fielding Jones Sr. or (Big George) as he would come to be known was the baby of his family born on February 25th, 1958 to the Parents of Malcolm Luther Jones (Sunny) and Linda Joe Jones. He had 3 Siblings Rhonda Radley, Malcolm Jones Jr. and, Lettie Gavlak. He was born in Culver City, California and around 1960 his family moved to Vandenburgh Village near Lompoc where he played little league baseball all through his childhood years. He loved bike riding. He would tell us that his bike took him anywhere he wanted to go, and on occasion from the village all the way to Santa Maria. At the age of 15 he moved to Elk Creek with his parents. He would finish high school there, playing baseball and football and being quite the ladies’ man. George was an adventurous young man, charming with a fun and funny outlook on life as a jokester to be precise. Following high school, he took a job in the Logging Industry as a knot bumper they called it. You had to be strong and strong he was. In 1979 with an invitation from his brother Malcolm he made his way to Coalinga where there was a promise of job in the oil industry. He settled in quite quickly and made friends even faster. There wasn’t anyone that he ran into that he didn’t make a friend with. He was charismatic with his mountain man look and his playfulness. Not afraid of anything. You never know if you don’t try, I’ll give’er a try he would often say starting most sentences with “Well” insinuating if it worked it worked and if it didn’t well it was fun trying.
He soon met the woman who he would love until his dying day. He met Linda Medina at the A&W where she worked. She would make him tacos with extra meat and shakes that were thick enough to turn upside down. They celebrated their first Valentine’s Day and he made her the worst cinnamon chicken dinner and got her a heart shaped cake “but then there were the munchies and he only had half to give her”. But each year from there on out it would be a symbol of their love all the way to their last Valentine’s where she delivered him a care package that included a half a heart shaped cake. They married on May 30th, 1981 and would be married for the next 40 wonderful years. They excitedly welcome their first son George Fielding Jones Jr on Dec 14th, 1981. He was so proud of his accomplishment in making this strapping young man he contemplated saving his first poop because that’s what proud pops do, think everything is amazing. This would be his legacy “Little George” was his pride and joy, which he lovingly always referred to as “Fred” LOL people like Flintstone. He was a big baby a 9 pounder with the sweetest dark brown curls and feet that he just knew were going to hold up a giant someday. In 1983 he was blessed with his daughter Miranda (I can say that because I'm writing this but not only that he told me every day, so I've come to believe it. He said he was blessed with each one of us.) It is said that before they even cut the umbilical cord he was running off with me to show whoever was there. He was so proud he had produced the first granddaughter in the family on the Jones’ side. He called me Bear. I was his little Beary Bear, Miranda Bear he’d say. He was my example of a man my prince charming so mushy with my mama. In 1988, he would meet his match in humor his baby was born, James Alexander Jones, named after his great, great, great grandpa. And what fun he was for all of us. His bubba, whom he as well referred to as Fred. Dad loved to laugh and with James everything was funny right down to never disciplining him the way he did with us. He says it was my mom, but it never stopped him from teaching us a lesson. The boys both worked in the oil fields with him for a time. Hearing the stories people would tell him about them would make him beam. He was proud of the men they had become and always loved to brag on them. He loved us all with all his heart and told us that we were his greatest accomplishments. And none of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for the most amazing woman he ever met. He talked about her sweetly and inappropriately but in a “Omg, Dad” kind of way and would say “Well, Hey I love her” and smile and laugh with his deep horse rough laugh. Ugh Dad, but he cared for her and showed it in so many ways. People would often tell us of his rough and tumble kind of personality, and we couldn’t picture that man who loved our mother so sweetly, nor could they picture him as the man who we described loving and doting over our mom. With such easy he would always hug her up and say “Ok, dear” and made the world a safe place for her. A place where only what came from their love mattered.
George worked in the oil industry and made every job his best work. He worked for Oil Well Service. Then for Hydrotest and finally spent 26 years with C&H Testing as a hydro tester. He became a local legend of sorts in the oil fields, with tales of his strength and superhuman feats. He was a man with a big presence whose stories were fun. He’d show up ready to work with a pocket full of fireballs and sodas for the whole crew. He would share a laugh with you over a burrito and the hottest salsa you ever ate. He might pull a bottle of Tabasco out of his pocket if no one came prepared with some heat.
In 2013, he took on his most fun assignment to date and changed his title to Grandpa. He had two Granddaughters Hannah, who came In Oct 2013 and referred to him as Papa and Mattie, who was born in Jan 2017 and referred to him as Crappa. He took on his new role with all intentions of being that grandpa who taught you lessons and governed with strength and rules. Of course, if you ever saw him with these girls you would know that they turned him into a ball of mush, with hugs and kisses. It was all Barbie dolls singing and Moana. “They are so beautiful,” he would say. He would tell me “Hug Hannah a lot, she’s like you. She will need it” and, “Keep an eye on that Mattie, she’s really something else.”
He was a friend to all. On any given day you might catch him on the porch in his work clothes havin’ a smoke or tinkering with one of his various hobby vehicles he had through the years. He might show up at your work with a puppy in his pocket to brighten your day. You might have known at 10:00 am he’d have a breakfast date with date with his mother in-law and The Price is Right. After a good rain, he might tell you to jump in the pickup, let’s go for a ride in the creek and play in the mud. Or on a nice day he might take you for a walk in the creek to look for rocks and fossils for the garden. Maybe he was Uncle George to you. You might catch him at the gas station picking up lotto tickets and a fountain Pepsi. Maybe he was there to hug you when you needed it and teach you just what a hug should feel like. Maybe he’d spend all day with you putting lights on your truck and trying to teach you life lessons. You could almost always guarantee that you would be part of some antic he had going with his brother Malcolm whether it be sneaking a WII into your hospital room so you could have one more golf tournament before you go. Or pretending to ride all the way to your house on bikes, only to have parked at the corner by your house “But getting those bikes in and out of the pickup was harder work than I thought it would be.” Maybe he was the one that made you laugh at a time you didn’t think you had a laugh in you.
In Feb 2020 George was diagnosed with cancer, he fought the cancer the best he could with humor and his family by his side. James was able to spend the year caring for him and taking him to his various appointments. What fun they had trying to keep track of all the changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. They took many trips to Denny’s and stopped at the Taco Truck in Five Points, his two favorite places to eat. On February 24th, 2021, he passed peacefully in his home with his wife and daughter by his side. He is proceeded in death by his father Malcolm Luther Jones Sr, Mother Linda Joe Jones, and his brother Malcolm Luther Jones Jr. He is survived by his wife Linda Jones, sons George Jones Jr and James Jones. His daughter Miranda Battle, son in law Matthew Battle, granddaughters Hannah and Mattie Battle, sisters Rhonda Radley and Lettie Gavlak, as well as his many brother in-laws, sister In- laws nieces and nephews. He will forever be missed and will leave a lasting memory in all our hearts. There will never be another man like him, so strong, so kind, so loving. We were so fortunate to have been a part of his life.
Graveside Services are scheduled for 10:00am on Friday March 5th 2021 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, 40054 Calaveras Ave, Coalinga, CA 93210. A Celebration of Life will follow Graveside Services at Miranda's House. All friends and family are welcome.
He soon met the woman who he would love until his dying day. He met Linda Medina at the A&W where she worked. She would make him tacos with extra meat and shakes that were thick enough to turn upside down. They celebrated their first Valentine’s Day and he made her the worst cinnamon chicken dinner and got her a heart shaped cake “but then there were the munchies and he only had half to give her”. But each year from there on out it would be a symbol of their love all the way to their last Valentine’s where she delivered him a care package that included a half a heart shaped cake. They married on May 30th, 1981 and would be married for the next 40 wonderful years. They excitedly welcome their first son George Fielding Jones Jr on Dec 14th, 1981. He was so proud of his accomplishment in making this strapping young man he contemplated saving his first poop because that’s what proud pops do, think everything is amazing. This would be his legacy “Little George” was his pride and joy, which he lovingly always referred to as “Fred” LOL people like Flintstone. He was a big baby a 9 pounder with the sweetest dark brown curls and feet that he just knew were going to hold up a giant someday. In 1983 he was blessed with his daughter Miranda (I can say that because I'm writing this but not only that he told me every day, so I've come to believe it. He said he was blessed with each one of us.) It is said that before they even cut the umbilical cord he was running off with me to show whoever was there. He was so proud he had produced the first granddaughter in the family on the Jones’ side. He called me Bear. I was his little Beary Bear, Miranda Bear he’d say. He was my example of a man my prince charming so mushy with my mama. In 1988, he would meet his match in humor his baby was born, James Alexander Jones, named after his great, great, great grandpa. And what fun he was for all of us. His bubba, whom he as well referred to as Fred. Dad loved to laugh and with James everything was funny right down to never disciplining him the way he did with us. He says it was my mom, but it never stopped him from teaching us a lesson. The boys both worked in the oil fields with him for a time. Hearing the stories people would tell him about them would make him beam. He was proud of the men they had become and always loved to brag on them. He loved us all with all his heart and told us that we were his greatest accomplishments. And none of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for the most amazing woman he ever met. He talked about her sweetly and inappropriately but in a “Omg, Dad” kind of way and would say “Well, Hey I love her” and smile and laugh with his deep horse rough laugh. Ugh Dad, but he cared for her and showed it in so many ways. People would often tell us of his rough and tumble kind of personality, and we couldn’t picture that man who loved our mother so sweetly, nor could they picture him as the man who we described loving and doting over our mom. With such easy he would always hug her up and say “Ok, dear” and made the world a safe place for her. A place where only what came from their love mattered.
George worked in the oil industry and made every job his best work. He worked for Oil Well Service. Then for Hydrotest and finally spent 26 years with C&H Testing as a hydro tester. He became a local legend of sorts in the oil fields, with tales of his strength and superhuman feats. He was a man with a big presence whose stories were fun. He’d show up ready to work with a pocket full of fireballs and sodas for the whole crew. He would share a laugh with you over a burrito and the hottest salsa you ever ate. He might pull a bottle of Tabasco out of his pocket if no one came prepared with some heat.
In 2013, he took on his most fun assignment to date and changed his title to Grandpa. He had two Granddaughters Hannah, who came In Oct 2013 and referred to him as Papa and Mattie, who was born in Jan 2017 and referred to him as Crappa. He took on his new role with all intentions of being that grandpa who taught you lessons and governed with strength and rules. Of course, if you ever saw him with these girls you would know that they turned him into a ball of mush, with hugs and kisses. It was all Barbie dolls singing and Moana. “They are so beautiful,” he would say. He would tell me “Hug Hannah a lot, she’s like you. She will need it” and, “Keep an eye on that Mattie, she’s really something else.”
He was a friend to all. On any given day you might catch him on the porch in his work clothes havin’ a smoke or tinkering with one of his various hobby vehicles he had through the years. He might show up at your work with a puppy in his pocket to brighten your day. You might have known at 10:00 am he’d have a breakfast date with date with his mother in-law and The Price is Right. After a good rain, he might tell you to jump in the pickup, let’s go for a ride in the creek and play in the mud. Or on a nice day he might take you for a walk in the creek to look for rocks and fossils for the garden. Maybe he was Uncle George to you. You might catch him at the gas station picking up lotto tickets and a fountain Pepsi. Maybe he was there to hug you when you needed it and teach you just what a hug should feel like. Maybe he’d spend all day with you putting lights on your truck and trying to teach you life lessons. You could almost always guarantee that you would be part of some antic he had going with his brother Malcolm whether it be sneaking a WII into your hospital room so you could have one more golf tournament before you go. Or pretending to ride all the way to your house on bikes, only to have parked at the corner by your house “But getting those bikes in and out of the pickup was harder work than I thought it would be.” Maybe he was the one that made you laugh at a time you didn’t think you had a laugh in you.
In Feb 2020 George was diagnosed with cancer, he fought the cancer the best he could with humor and his family by his side. James was able to spend the year caring for him and taking him to his various appointments. What fun they had trying to keep track of all the changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. They took many trips to Denny’s and stopped at the Taco Truck in Five Points, his two favorite places to eat. On February 24th, 2021, he passed peacefully in his home with his wife and daughter by his side. He is proceeded in death by his father Malcolm Luther Jones Sr, Mother Linda Joe Jones, and his brother Malcolm Luther Jones Jr. He is survived by his wife Linda Jones, sons George Jones Jr and James Jones. His daughter Miranda Battle, son in law Matthew Battle, granddaughters Hannah and Mattie Battle, sisters Rhonda Radley and Lettie Gavlak, as well as his many brother in-laws, sister In- laws nieces and nephews. He will forever be missed and will leave a lasting memory in all our hearts. There will never be another man like him, so strong, so kind, so loving. We were so fortunate to have been a part of his life.
Graveside Services are scheduled for 10:00am on Friday March 5th 2021 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, 40054 Calaveras Ave, Coalinga, CA 93210. A Celebration of Life will follow Graveside Services at Miranda's House. All friends and family are welcome.