Cecil Frederick Jones, age 95, died September 17, 2018. He was born on May 13, 1923 in Utica, Kansas to Alex Dale and Edna Delores (Wick) Jones.

Cecil attended schools in Utica, Lake City and Telluride Colorado, and graduated from Utica High School.

He joined the United States Marine Corps in Feb. 1943 and participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theatre including the Western Caroline Islands, Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Leyte and the Northern Solomon Islands. He served until the end of WW II.

After the war he attended Kansas State University and later worked for a civil engineering firm in Colorado and Tennessee. He married Lauretta Virginia Brow in 1955 in Eckert, CO and shortly after returned to Utica. He was a rural mail carrier for 19 years, and was a soil conservation contractor building terraces, waterways and watershed dams in Kansas.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite, Lions Club, American Legion and VFW. He also served on the city council for many years.

Cecil is survived by his son Dale and wife Alina of Hesston, KS; grandson Dylan and wife Astrid of Newton, KS; grandson Logan Jones of Fort Collins, CO; great-grandchildren Diego, Juli and Olivia; a sister, Delores Huxman of Ransom, KS; a sister-in-law, Bobbie Jones of Eckert, CO; many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, one sister, five brothers, and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Memorial service is TENTATIVELY set for October 6, 2018 at Utica United Methodist Church with full military honors at burial in the Utica Cemetery. PLEASE CHECK HERE FOR CONFIRMED SERVICE TIMES AND DATE. THE ABOVE DATE IS NOT CONFIRMED YET.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the United Methodist Church, Utica. Donations to the church may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.