DOVER - Ellis "Jonsey" Jones died Apr. 8, 2017, at the Milford Hospice Center.
Born in Phila., Pa., he was the son of the late Ellis and Ann (Prevento) Jones.
Jonsey joined the U.S. Navy in 1948, and served aboard the Destroyer USS Willard Keith. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1953, he worked for Kaiser Metal Products of Bristol, Pa., where he manufactured aircraft wings for the B-57 Bomber, and later worked for Piasecki/ Vertol Corporation.
From May 1958 until December 1989, Jonsy served with the U.S. Civil Service at DAFB where he worked as a Structural Repair Technician performing repairs on the C5A/B. His work often sent him to other parts of the world. He eventually served as Shop Supervisor until 1989. Throughout the years, Jonsey had associated himself with Jenkins Air Craft Salvage in Wyoming, DE, where he performed inspections and maintenance of N-registered aircraft. Throughout the years he was a regular at Massey Air Park and
Delaware Air Park, where the aviation community always welcomed him and will surely miss his afternoon visits. Jonsey was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed working with the safety crew at Dover International Speedway for many years. He loved flying his own plane, boating and being on the water.
In his quieter moments, he gave his wife Mary his attention and love for more than 60 years until her passing in 2014. He was a faithful member of Holy Cross Church in Dover, and was a daily partaker of lunch at the Dover Modern Maturity Center.
He leaves behind three brothers-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and several close friends.
Services will be held on Monday, Apr. 17, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, 1175 S. State St. Dover, where friends may call starting at 10 a.m. Interment with Honors will take place at 1 p.m. at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Millsboro. Condolences may be forwarded via www.ambruso.com