Barbara Dawson Jones

MAGNOLIA - Barbara Dawson Jones, of Magnolia, departed this life to inherit the place God has prepared for her on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.

She was the daughter of the late E. Elliott and Helen Dawson of Rochester, Pa.

Barbara graduated from Rochester High School, Duff's Business School in Pittsburgh, West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, W.Va. and George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tenn.

Although holding a master's degree in teaching, Barbara only taught in Caesar Rodney School District prior to the birth of her children.

She then devoted herself to caring for the family and volunteering for organizations that would benefit others.

Barbara was a partner in the ministry of the United Methodist Church with her husband, W. LeRoy Jones, at the churches where he was appointed to serve.

These churches included Magnolia, Barretts Chapel and Bowers Beach, Ingomar, Fox Chapel, Greenstone (Bellevue), Clarion, and Monroeville in Pennsylvania.

Upon retirement they moved to her husband's native state of Delaware and had a mailing address of Magnolia, which was also the address for the first years of their married life.

Since moving to Delaware they have served for brief periods in Magnolia, Little Creek, Leipsic, Harrington, Camden, Smyrna and Dover churches.

Barbara was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Dover, a member of the United Methodist Women and played in the handbell choir.

Just recently she was elected president of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Women.

Barbara was also a member of the Newcomers Club of Dover. Additionally, she volunteered weekly at W. Reily Brown Elementary School with the visually impaired program.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Edward Dawson of Baden, Pa.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 51 years, the Rev. W. Leroy Jones; her three daughters and their husbands, Karen and Dirk Vandermeer of Clarion, Pa., Leslie and David Helfgott of Vienna, Va., and Denise and Curtis Brosius of Magnolia; her grandchildren, Drew and Gretchen Vandermeer, Rachel and Nathan Helfgott, Luke, Joel, Seth and Leah Brosius; her sister Helen Louise and husband Charles Reader of Rochester, Pa.; sister-in-law Helen Dawson of Baden, Pa.; one niece and three nephews.

A celebration of Barbara's life will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover.

The family will receive friends from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today in the Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 Lebanon Road, Dover.

Interment will take place at Barratt's Chapel Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations to be sent to Peninsula-Delaware Conference United Methodist Women c/o Elizabeth De Souza George, 22901 Dover Bridge Road, Preston, MD 21655; or Barbara Jones Memorial Fund in care of Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover.

Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.