Robert Owen Jones ’46

Robert Owen Jones ’46 died peacefully in his sleep on July 7. He lived a life devoted to God, family, and country. Born in Boston in 1925, Bob grew up in Rockville Center on Long Island, New York. He came to Dartmouth in 1942 and left before graduating to enlist. His unit was marched into the Ardennes Forest and the arduous Battle of the Bulge. He served with courage and distinction and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Because of the war, Bob committed his life to working for peace. He studied political science and then taught at St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia. In 1964 Bob joined the U.S. Foreign Service and moved with wife Rosemary and their five children to Lahore, Pakistan, where he served as cultural attaché and organized art exhibits, classes in English, and seminars in political science and governance. Bob was famous for his sports exchanges—he was said to believe in peace through exhaustion—bringing U.S. athletes and coaches overseas to work with local youth. For the next 30 years he served in Asia and Africa, working tirelessly to promote peace and understanding around the globe. After retirement from the Foreign Service, he devoted his time to his community, volunteering at soup kitchens, teaching English as a second language, and coaching youth basketball. He was predeceased by Rosemary in 2018. He is survived by his children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.