Theodore Jones

Theodore Sherman Jones (March 27, 1920 – Aug. 26, 1944) was a soldier from Winfield killed in France during World War II.

Biography

Born March 27, 1920, in Burnside, Ky., Theodore S. Jones was the son of Gilbert Marion Jones (born 1875) and Nervia Anderson (1886-1966). His siblings included an infant born and died in 1923, Beatrice Jones, Erskin Manuel Jones (1924-1997), Ollie Mae Wilson (1926-2015), Nadine Georgia Wright (1930-1993) and Arnold C. Jones (1930-2007).

Theodore’s father was originally from Kentucky, but his wife’s family was from Jellico Creek in Scott County. She married Gilbert Jones in 1919 and they lived in McCreary County. Following his death, she moved back to the Gum Fork area of Winfield. It’s not clear when this move occurred, but it was between 1930 and 1940. Theodore lived with his mother and siblings in the Gum Fork community when the 1940 census was taken.

World War II

PFC Jones registered for the draft on July 1, 1941 in Oneida. At the time, he lived in Winfield and worked for Hudson Miller. He listed his next of kin as Teril Duncan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov. 7, 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. and was assigned to the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division. He died on Aug. 26, 1944 in France. Little additional information is available.

Aftermath

PFC Jones was initially interred at the Villeneuve-sur-Auvers American Cemetery in France. However, his body was returned home in September 1948 for burial at Ryan Cemetery in the Gum Fork community. A funeral service was held at Gum Fork Church with Rev. Howard Walker officiating.

He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida and the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville.