Richard N Jones

Richard N. Jones of Wolfeboro, NH, passed away at his home on June 9, 2012, after a short illness. He was surrounded by his family, including his beloved wife and best friend, Amy (Park) Jones, to whom he was married for 61 years. Further survived by his adoring children: Robert (Florence) of Dracut, MA, Melissa Block (Bruce) of Bayside, WI, and William (Debra) of Scarborough, ME; and his eight loving grandchildren: Daniel Jones of Boston, MA, Lindsay Jones of Scarborough, ME, Darren Jones of Reading, MA, Wesley Mosman Block (Caitlin Mosman Block) of Madison, WI, Kelley Jones of Scarborough, ME, Emily Block of Worcester, MA, Scott Jones of Marshfield, MA, and Benjamin Block of San Francisco, CA. Richard N. Jones was born September 26, 1927 in Lowell, MA, the son of William E. & Virginia M. Jones. He graduated from Wakefield, MA High School and received a degree in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked for the A.C. Lawrence Leather Co. in Peabody, MA for twenty-six years, principally in research and development. He served as the superintendent of the Sheepskin Division and as product development manager of the Webster St. Plant. When Lawrence closed, Mr. Jones became a partner and vice-president of National Tanning & Trading Corp. In later years, he was a partner and director of research for Riley Leather Co. Mr. Jones was credited with developing processes for washable and dry-cleanable leathers, and held patents on the manufacturer of fire-resistant leathers. He was a percussionist who served as the drum major for both his high school and college bands, and was a member of the Great Lakes Navy Band during part of his naval service. He was a founding member of the Linn Village Drum Band of Wakefield, MA, a colonial group which enjoyed national recognition, and served as the band’s snare drum sergeant for sixteen years. Mr. Jones was a member of the First Congregational Church of Wolfeboro, NH, serving on various boards and committees. For fifteen years he was the treasurer for the Trustees of Trust Funds of the church. He participated in the work of Habitat for Humanity, and was an involved member of the Wolfeboro X-C Ski Association. His conservation interests included Levey Park in Alton, where he was chair of the trustees for many years, and the UNH Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, for which he monitored a site in Alton Bay. In Wolfeboro, he served on the Conservation Commission and was a member of the steering committee that oversaw the construction of Front Bay Park. He was a long-time member of the Water Quality and Science & Research Committees of the NH Lakes Association. At the Back Bay retirement community where he resided, he was that campus’s representative to the Taylor Community Resident Forum for several years, and served two terms as the Resident Trustee of the institution’s Board of Trustees. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church, Wolfeboro, NH at 2:00 on Sunday, June 17th.