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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Robert "Bob"
Lawrence Jonas
July 18, 1926 – April 12, 2018
Obituary
Robert Lawrence Jonas, of Charleston, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Barling, Arkansas. He was born July 18, 1926, in Tyler, Texas, to the late Rowland F. and Bertie E. (Smith) Jonas. A mere four months later, his mother passed away and he was subsequently raised for a while by his grandmother, Clara Pauline Jonas. Bob was 91 years. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mary Alice (Hunt) Jonas; his older brother, Ed, all of his sisters and a step-granddaughter.
At the age of 5, Bob moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas with his father and his new wife, Adele (Saunders) Jonas. He lived there with along with his three sisters, Juanita, Margaret, and Mary Elizabeth and his new brother, Rowland F. Jonas II. Bob often reflected on his time in school, particularly high school, where he played the clarinet in the school band. Immediately after completing high school, Bob joined the Navy where he served for one year, four months, and nineteen days (as he was always quick to explain). While stationed in California, Bob visited a roller skating rink and met Mary Alice Hunt. He noticed her because of her height...Bob always liked tall women. They dated and then married on August 8, 1946, and after discharging from the Navy, Bob began work for Arden Farms Milk Company in Los Angeles, California. Their first daughter, Mary Mildred, was born in March of 1948 and their second, Deborah Deane, in July 1949. Shortly thereafter the young family moved to a brand-new home in Torrance, California. In August of 1963, the family decided to take on the responsibility of caring for foster children, Beginning with the arrival of 4-week old Maria Elena, Bob and Mary began the foster parenting journey. During this journey, they cared for over 20 children, and in 1968, they adopted one of the children, Stephen Andre, at the age of 4 years. Bob retired from Arden (now Mayfair) and he and Mary decided to tour the states in their motor home, "The Whale", ending up in Charleston, Arkansas. Bob loved his life, his family, his church, and most importantly his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 17th, at First Freewill Baptist Church in Charleston, with the Rev. Jeff Holland, Rev. David Holt, and Dr. James R. Brown officiating. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, with military honors, at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Charleston, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.
He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Smith and husband Richard of Charleston and Debbie Brown and husband Jim of San Marcos, California; his son, Stephen Jonas of Maranda, California; a brother, Fred Jonas and wife Cappy of Hot Springs, Arkansas; six grandchildren and three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and fourteen step-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Ron Roper, Mike Hewett, Mike Arredondo, Cody Fox, John Arnold, and Danny Roberts.
Family visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday night, April 16th, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask donations be made to Maggie House; 1005 Second St. Charleston, AR 72933 or to The Gideons International; P.O. Box 685 Greenwood, AR 72936.
To view the video tribute, please visit http://videos.lifetributes.com/886781
To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.
At the age of 5, Bob moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas with his father and his new wife, Adele (Saunders) Jonas. He lived there with along with his three sisters, Juanita, Margaret, and Mary Elizabeth and his new brother, Rowland F. Jonas II. Bob often reflected on his time in school, particularly high school, where he played the clarinet in the school band. Immediately after completing high school, Bob joined the Navy where he served for one year, four months, and nineteen days (as he was always quick to explain). While stationed in California, Bob visited a roller skating rink and met Mary Alice Hunt. He noticed her because of her height...Bob always liked tall women. They dated and then married on August 8, 1946, and after discharging from the Navy, Bob began work for Arden Farms Milk Company in Los Angeles, California. Their first daughter, Mary Mildred, was born in March of 1948 and their second, Deborah Deane, in July 1949. Shortly thereafter the young family moved to a brand-new home in Torrance, California. In August of 1963, the family decided to take on the responsibility of caring for foster children, Beginning with the arrival of 4-week old Maria Elena, Bob and Mary began the foster parenting journey. During this journey, they cared for over 20 children, and in 1968, they adopted one of the children, Stephen Andre, at the age of 4 years. Bob retired from Arden (now Mayfair) and he and Mary decided to tour the states in their motor home, "The Whale", ending up in Charleston, Arkansas. Bob loved his life, his family, his church, and most importantly his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 17th, at First Freewill Baptist Church in Charleston, with the Rev. Jeff Holland, Rev. David Holt, and Dr. James R. Brown officiating. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, with military honors, at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Charleston, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.
He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Smith and husband Richard of Charleston and Debbie Brown and husband Jim of San Marcos, California; his son, Stephen Jonas of Maranda, California; a brother, Fred Jonas and wife Cappy of Hot Springs, Arkansas; six grandchildren and three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and fourteen step-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Ron Roper, Mike Hewett, Mike Arredondo, Cody Fox, John Arnold, and Danny Roberts.
Family visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday night, April 16th, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask donations be made to Maggie House; 1005 Second St. Charleston, AR 72933 or to The Gideons International; P.O. Box 685 Greenwood, AR 72936.
To view the video tribute, please visit http://videos.lifetributes.com/886781
To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert "Bob" Lawrence Jonas, please visit our flower store.
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