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Author of “The Firescalds Road to the Sky,” Ronald Cleveland “Ron” Jones, 72, a resident of Moseley, Va., died peacefully at Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. His death was due to complications related to kidney failure.
Jones’ “Firescalds” is an inspiring account of his trail from boyhood to manhood while realizing the value of a personal relationship with God. He recalls his early boyhood on an old farm situated in Barkers Creek in the high mountains of the Appalachians and his family’s relocation to the flatlands of the eastern shore of Virginia.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. followed by services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, at Appalachian Funeral Services and Crematorium in Sylva, N.C. Dr. Michael P. Germano, his brother-in-law, will officiate.
Burial will follow the funeral at the Brown/Jones family cemetery at Barkers Creek in Jackson County, N.C.
Ronald Cleveland Jones was born Aug. 10, 1944, to Elmer and Erma Buchanan Jones in Hampton, Virginia. He graduated from Hampton High school in May 1961, Ambassador College in Pasadena, Calif., with a B.S. in 1966 and an M.S. degree at Longwood University in Farmville, Va. He pursued doctoral studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
Ron’s career included teaching in the Amelia County Public Schools in Amelia, Va. He later created and operated a northern Virginia construction and log home business. He constructed and operated a restaurant outside Amelia, Va. Later in life, he was employed by Brinks Security in security system sales. As one of Brinks Security’s top 10 regional salesmen, he was an award-winning President’s Club, Mid-Atlantic and regional leading salesman.
Ron was an extra in the motion pictures “True Colors” (1991) starring John Cusack and “Love Field” (1992) featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Haysbert, and Stephanie McFadden. His avocational interest was working on cars and traveling, but his heart was really in designing and constructing log homes and renovation.
Ron was preceded in death by his father, Elmer C. Jones.
Survivors include his mother, Erma Lucille Buchanan Jones of Greens Creek; sisters, Brenda E. Germano of Mint Hill, N.C., and Sylvia Taylor Stein of Oxnard, Calif., brother Bruce D. Jones of Pittsboro, and six nieces and nephews.
As Ron ended “The Firescalds Road to the Sky” with the words “He had come to the door of the Rock, the Stone, the ‘Wisdom’ of the ages,” and so he has.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
Comment:
John Gudeman (1962)
Just received word from Ron Jones' sister Sylvia that Ron passed away early this morning. Although we will miss him greatly, we're thankful that he will be spared from further pain and suffering. Our dear friend Ron had been in the hospital or assisted living for the better part of this past year. I talked with Ron almost every week for the past year and always he had a very positive optimistic outlook on life and he was deeply thankful to Almighty God for all of the blessings he had received. We talked for hundreds of hours and prayed and laughed together. Ron was truly an inspiration in every respect.
Thank you to the Ambassador Alumni for your prayers, support and kind words for Ron during the past year. All were conveyed to Ron and he was extremely grateful. Some of you contacted Ron directly which meant so much to him. Ron entered Ambassador College in 1962, graduated in 1966 and went on to a very productive life which included writing THE FIRESCALDS ROAD TO THE SKY in 2009. As we conclude and celebrate Ron's life, we can take comfort and joy in the concluding words of THE FIRESCALDS.
"Where does that road go, Grandpa?" RC now knew the answer.
"To a higher rock, that being Jesus Christ, and to the sky," was the resounding answer in his mind. "To the sky, by God, to the sky to Almighty God our Father."
The Firescalds road, with Grandma Lottie teaching him to pray through Jesus Christ, with EC and Lucille admonishing him to live right; with Grandpa Ben teaching him to keep it all practical; and a host of others giving him encouragement, he found his way to the sky, to a deep relationship with God that only a blessed few find.
He had come to the door of the Rock, the Stone, the "Wisdom"" of the ages.
May God bless and strengthen all of Ron"s family and friends during the coming days.
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