Mary Jones

Mary Virginia Jones, 100, of Morgantown,WV and formerly of Oakland, MD died on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at her residence. Born on February 22, 1914 in Rowlesburg, WV, she was the daughter of the late Adolpha J. and Rachel (Deets) Moore. She started her education at the Rowlesburg Elementary School and then continued to Rowlesburg High School where she was awarded a gold medal in 1932 for her four years of winning Monologues in an interclass contest. Virginia continued her education at West Virginia University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in education. In Preston County, she taught for the Bruceton Mills and Tunnelton schools until she married Lewis R. Jones on September 24, 1939. While Lewis was in the Coast Guard during WWII, she taught at Rowlesburg High School until 1945. Virginia avidly served her community and fellow citizens as a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader, as Chairwoman of the Oakland Centennial Pageant "Song of the Oaks", first curator of the Garrett County Historical Society Museum, the Garrett County Chairman for the Campaigns of Charles McMathais and Glenn Beall, Jr., a charter member of the Garrett County Women's Republican Club, a member of the Youghiogheny Glades Chapter of the DAR, Past Worthy Matron of Oakland Chapter #67 Order of Eastern Star, a Board of Ed committee member for Green St. School, member of the Ruth Enlow Library Board for which she was on the original building committee and held the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President. She was a Life Member of the following organizations: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, WVU Alumna, Garrett County Historical Society, Rowlesburg Area Historical Society and Friends of the Ruth Enlow Library. For her diligent service she received the following honors: named Citizen of the Year by Oakland Girl Scout Troop (1952), B.P.W. honors for community work with the Garrett County Historical Society (1969), honored by Quill and Scroll as an honorary member for work as curator of the Garrett County Historical Museum (1970), again honored by B.P.W. (1989-90), awarded Life Membership from Preston County Historical Society for exceptional generosity (1999), and named Woman of the Year by the Garrett County Republican Woman of the Year (2002). She also held the distinction of being the only woman member of the Committee to study Juvenile Court for Garrett County appointed by Judge Neil Fraley. Virginia was a 60-year member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church where she served on the Administrative Board, Parsonage and Historical Committees and was a charter member of WSCS and served as their vice president for two years. She is survived by a first cousin, Mrs. Irene Swecker of Huttonsville, WV and several nieces and nephews of her extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis R. Jones, in 2004. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 11 AM in the Burdock-Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N 2nd St., Oakland with Rev. Lawrence Sherwood officiating. According to her wishes, private interment was held in the Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, WV. Memorials may be made to the Garrett County Historical Society, 107 S 2nd St., Oakland, MD 21550 or to a charitable organization of choice.

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