Our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Vincent Jones, passed away peacefully on the morning of Nov. 19, 2019. He was reunited on the other side with the love of his life, Margaret, and son Keven, along with other family members.
Vincent was born May 5, 1930, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, to Lawrence Isaiah and Essie E. (Harris) Jones. He was their fifth child and raised with eleven other siblings in Lofgreen, Utah. He married Margaret Elaine Boswell on Aug. 28, 1948, and they were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 25, 1957. Together they made their home in Tooele, Utah, and raised four children.
As a young boy, he had a natural mechanical talent and displayed a deep interest in automobiles. He overhauled his first automobile engine at nine years old, telling his mother which parts to purchase from the Sears catalog.
In his early teenage years he worked as a miner in the Scranton and Mammoth mines then as a section hand for Union Pacific Railroad. After marrying and moving to Tooele he began working as a mechanic for Fred Davis Garage. His talents and self-taught mechanical skills were noticed, leading him to be one of the first at overhauling an automatic transmission. At the age of 43 he invented a trailing arm suspension system for which he received a patent. He also received an achievement award from the Scientists of America for this invention. Vincent became known by many in Tooele and surrounding areas for his reputation as an honest mechanic and automobile salesman. After 20 years of service in several positions at Bonneville (Ford) Motor Company, and 10 years of service at Tooele County Garage as lead diesel mechanic, he set out to achieve his life-long dream of business ownership. Vincent opened and successfully ran his first business, Jones Automotive in 1988.
In 1999, Vincent and his children purchased Flaming Gorge Lodge. As owner he loved to greet visitors and tell stories, and made many friends along the way. He operated his towing service while there, and often shared his testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with those he helped.
He was an active member and served in many positions for the Church such as Young Men’s counselor, secretary for the Elder’s Quorum Presidency, and president of the Seventy’s Quorum. He had a deep love for the Church and loved to serve daily as a missionary. He leaves us with a legacy of unconditional love and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his children, Linda Rae (DeLoy) Adams, Debra Kae (Bob) Harris and David Lee Jones; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Dale Charles Jones, Gene Lane Jones, and Lynn Jones; two sisters, Beverly Paul and LaRaine Holman.
He was preceded in death by his wife and son, Margaret Elaine (Boswell) Jones and Keven Vincent Jones; his parents, Lawrence Isaiah Jones and Essie E. (Harris) Jones; one sister, Juanita (Jones) Tallant; and five brothers, Joseph Lawrence Jones, Buster Isaiah Jones, Aralda Jones, Robert Jones, and Deloy Jones.
Services will be held Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, at the LDS Church building, 180 S. Coleman St., Tooele, Utah. A viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m., and funeral services will follow. Interment will be at Tooele City Cemetery.
Special thank you’s to his caretakers at Beehive Homes West Jordan and Envision Home and Health Hospice.