Robert Neville Jones Jr.

Robert Neville Jones Jr, 60, Redlands, California, passed away peacefully at home with his beloved wife Michele

at his side on June 17, 2023, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Robert was born on January 24, 1963, to Robert Neville Jones and Nancy Larine Hipple Jones. He was their first

of seven children. As a child he and his family moved many times as necessitated by his father’s progression of

education, military service, and employment opportunities, which started in Wyoming and included Arizona,

Ohio, Oklahoma, Illinois, Southern California, and Maryland. By the time he graduated from high school and

started at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho), the family had called 23 different apartments, condos, and houses

“home”. After a short period at Ricks, Robert served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

in the Korea Seoul Mission. Upon his return, he transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo Utah where he

obtained a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude). He then continued his educational journey at the University of

California Riverside, achieving both a Masters (1990) and a Ph.D. (2000) in English. He has dedicated over 30

years to teaching, working at Riverside Community College and Crafton Hills Community college, in addition to

working as a teaching assistant and then lecturer at UC Riverside while pursuing his graduate education.

After completion of his schooling, he served as a Lecturer at UC Riverside, and also taught for the University of

Redlands school of Business for 21 years. He taught courses ranging from Freshman composition, to writing and

analysis for business, and exploring literature and film. He cared deeply about education. His colleague and

program director John Briggs said of him “I visited his classroom numerous times, and always left impressed by

his generous concentration on the task at hand -- generous because he was very good at listening closely to the

students' comments and responding to their questions with genuine concern, even as he moved the class along.

The students knew he cared for them and for their progress.” Robert was passionate about literature and

scholarship. Whenever he traveled he always took a few books along. He enjoyed ancient texts, and had reading

knowledge of German, French, Old French and Latin. He was working on Greek and several other languages, so

that he could expand his ability to read original texts. He enjoyed debating philosophy with many friends, both

in person, and through letters he exchanged.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Robert faithfully served in many assignments,

magnifying each one to the best of his abilities. He served in the scouting program, and spent many years

serving as a clerk and executive secretary for his local congregations. His favorite service was always teaching.

He loved the opportunities he had to delve into the scriptures, exploring the history and culture that shaped the

testimonies of Jesus Christ recorded there, and sharing that joy he found in his studies with others.

As a youth, Robert was a terrific elder brother for his siblings: Lawrence Richard (Rick) Jones, Kristana (Kris)

Hubbell, Keressa Larine Jones, Ted Randall (Randy) Jones, Ernest Jeremy (Jeremy) Jones, and Matthew Jared

Jones. On March 24, 2001, he married his sweetheart Michele Eatough, daughter Delbert J Eatough and Judith

Mae Pursley Eatough. They were blessed with two amazing daughters, Eloise Elizabeth (2004) and Abigail Elaine

(2008). He and his wife and children loved days at the beach, Disneyland, sharing family meals, and exploring the

outdoors.

The family thanks the many doctors, nurses, friends, family, and church members for all their care and concern

during this challenging journey.

A memorial service for Robert will be held beginning at 10:30 a.m., Friday June 30, 2023 at The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-Day Saints Pioneer Chapel, located at 1021 E Pioneer Ave, Redlands, California. The family will

be receiving guests one hour before this memorial service. Interment will be held in the Hillside Memorial Park

in Redlands, California. Condolences may be expressed at www.emmersonbartlett.com