During the days of the Great Depression, Zelma Ruth Unruh Jones was born to the late Dietrich (Dick) & Mary Becker Unruh of Galva, Kansas. She was the youngest of six living children (Elvin, Victor, Orville, Madaline (Koehn), and Ethel (Jantz).
As a young lady, she and her friend moved to Denver, Colorado, which she would later describe it as her favorite city in the world. There she worked as a telephone operator. One of her dreams was to someday marry a pilot. While living in Denver, she met a young Air Force sergeant named Wayne Jones, Jr. of Anderson, SC. They fell in love and married in 1951. He would often spend time at the local airport, wanting to follow his childhood dream of flying airplanes. Their dreams converged as she encouraged him to take flying lessons. Later, Mom invested in their common dream and sold her car so they could buy a small Cessna 140 airplane. Dad became an accomplished pilot and flight instructor, accumulating over 11,000 flight hours. After his discharge from the Air Force, they moved from California to Anderson, SC, and in 1963 to Rock Hill, SC, making it their lifetime home with many friends.
As a dedicated mother to her four sons, she invested her energies at home for the benefit of her sons, always being there for them when they got home from school, preparing hot meals like clockwork, while Dad faithfully provided for the family. We learned the adventure of traveling together as a family through our annual trips to Kansas to visit Mom’s family in our Chevy station wagons.
The house was regularly filled with her humor and music. Mom often sang to her four young boys and routinely played the accordion. Years later she was able to buy a piano and take lessons. Following the graduation of her sons from high school, she bought a guitar and learned to play it. Practicing the piano and guitar were part of her daily afternoon routine.
Growing up in a Mennonite family, Christian values were important to her. As an adult, she believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord. Each day, she would read her Bible and other Christian books. Each Sunday morning and evening she could be found with her children in a local Baptist church. Along with Dad, Mom became a charter member of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Anderson, SC. After moving to Rock Hill in 1963, she became a faithful member of Eastview Baptist Church.
Her parents, brothers and sisters, her husband Wayne and youngest son John have all preceded her in death. She is survived by three sons: Wayne, III (Sheila) of Burlington, NC, Fred (Sara) of Bowman, GA, and Carl (Connie) of Kannapolis, NC. She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Wayne Jones, IV and Michelle Jones, Vicky Jones Mize, Sandy Jones Dutton, Bunny Jones, Paulette Jones, and Elizabeth Jones Cauthen; and ten great grandchildren, as well as two great-great grandchildren.
Family will receive friends at Eastview Baptist Church on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 1pm-2pm, followed by a graveside service at 2pm at Eastview Baptist Cemetery, 1430 Gordon Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Zelma’s name to Eastview Baptist Church, 1430 Gordon Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
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Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net