Orville F. Jones
July 13, 2008

He was born April 18, 1921, in Osceola, Nebraska to Herman and Effie Jones. He grew up there and graduated from Osceola High School. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1943 and entered the Navy. He served as a commanding officer in the Pacific Theater in World War II. After the end of the War, he began a career with the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During his government career he also worked for the Agency for International Development with assignments in Nigeria and Afghanistan and also for the United Nations in Rome, Italy. Following his retirement from the federal government in 1976, he started another career in farming until his retirement in 1986.

Orville was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Plainview, Nebraska, the Scottish Rite in Hastings, and the Sesostris Shrine Temple in Lincoln. He enjoyed participating in parades with his Sesostris brothers. He was a long time member of Kiwanis having been a member in Fremont and a past president in Beatrice. He was also a member of the American Legion.

He was married January 16, 1944, in Raleigh, North Carolina to Norma Rupprecht.

Survivors include his wife Norma; a daughter, Sheri (and husband David) Ruwe of Hooper; a son, Jerry (and wife Patti) Jones of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008, in the Calvary Lutheran Church, Swede Home, Nebraska, with Pastor Donna Durrette officiating. The committal will follow in the church cemetery. There will be Masonic and Military Graveside Rites. There is no public visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont.