John Daniel Jones, 92, a long time resident and business owner of the San Antonio, FL area passed away in Jacksonville, FL on Friday April 20th. He had suffered with COPD and within the last year developed lung cancer. John was born at home in Reynolds, Georgia on September 25, 1919, one day after his mother Lula Caraway's birthday. His father was Jesse Alexander Jones. John was the third of eight children of Jesse & Lula Jones: Eloise, Jesse Jr. (2003), John, Bill (2011), Mary, Jack (2011), Virgil (1993) and Ralph. His Dad Jesse moved the family to San Antonio, Florida in 1921 to work in the Sawmill business. He attended the local schools and after the family home was destroyed by fire in 1937, he moved to Chicago and lived with his sister, Eloise, and her family. There he worked at Marshall Fields the department store. He was drafted into the service during WWII on April 23, 1941. He was first stationed in Alaska, but volunteered to fly in the mighty Eighth Air Force out of England. He was in the 305th Bomber group their motto was "CAN DO". John flew 27 missions over Germany hanging outside the plane as a ball turit gunner in a B-17(Flying Fortress). He was the last living member of his bomber crew. At the end of the war he returned home to San Ann and started working in the family business (Sawmill). He met his wife Mary Fagan a native of St Joe at the once popular Club Iola. They were married on July 27, 1946 at the St. Joseph Church and have been married almost 66 years. John moved his young family to Miami shortly after his second child was born but returned at his mothers encouraging and with the help of his father bought a storefront in the 50s. It became the John & Marys Grocery on Penn Ave in San Antonio which is still operating today as the San Ann Market. In the 60s he opened the Jiffy Food Store in San Antonio on College Avenue, which is still running strong under the management of his nephew, Mark Jones. He was involved with the early growth in San Ann. He loaned the fire department money for the very first fire truck. He served on the San Antonio City Council. He was one of the founding directors of the San Antonio Citizens Credit Union.John retired in the 70s after a few robberies at the Jiffy Food store, one in which he chased the robbers clear into Tampa with his Ford truck. He moved Mary and younger daughter to a 68 acre farm in St. Joseph they named the Lazy J. There he tended to his citrus grove. He raised cattle and a menagerie of animals. He enjoyed fishing in the pasture pond. In fact John's favorite retirement past time became attending the weekly livestock auctions on Darby road. Mary never knew what he would come home with next. The animals ranged from horses, ponies, pigs, goats, a McCaw, a Cockatoo and he even had a monkey which he purchased from a college student which ended up being an anniversary gift for Mary. John and Mary also liked to travel. They traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and Alaska and throughout the United States. They attended many of the 8th Air Force reunions all over the United States including a reunion in England. When Johns COPD worsened and he developed macular degeneration (becoming legally blind) he and Mary moved to Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club on Caddyshack Lane. In 2008 they moved to University Village in Tampa and then moved to Jacksonville in 2012. John D. Jones is survived by his wife of 66 years Mary Fagan Jones of Jacksonville, 3 siblings Eloise Antink of Tampa, Mary May and Ralph Jones of San Antonio. Three children Marlene Freelove(George) of Winter Park, Fl. John M. Jones and Annette DeRenzo(Bob) of Jacksonville, FL. 6 grandchildren Ashlee Hill (Ken) of San Ann, Ryan Freelove of Clermont, Katie Nelms(John) of Austin, Texas, Jonathan Jones, Bobby and Mariah DeRenzo of Jacksonville, great-granchildren Robert and Caitlin Gude. One great-grandchild to be born in September in Texas and a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends. Honorary Pallbearers are: Walter Plazewski, John Arthur Jones, Florian Gude and Richard Petrie. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Ryan Freelove, Jonathan Jones, Bobby DeRenzo, Robert Gude, grand son in law John Nelms and nephew Mark Jones. The family will receive friends on Tuesday April 24th from 5-8pm at the 301 Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home 11441 Hwy 301, Dade City and a Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday April 25th at 11:30 at St Anthonys Church in San Antonio with a reception to follow at the Church Hall. The interment will take place at Garden of Memories in San Antonio.