Harbeson resident Bob Jones celebrates 100th birthday

Lifelong Philadelphia-area resident Robert “Bob” Jones celebrated his 100th birthday Oct. 3. Close to 90 family and friends celebrated with him at Westover Country Club in Norristown, Pa.

In attendance were Bob's five children, Sharon DeMara (Phillip DeMara), now of Harbeson; Kathy Jones Schwartz (Brian Schwartz); Robert A. Jones (Mary Elsasser); Barbara Jones Baker (Terry Baker), now of Lewes; and Ursula Jones LaBrusciano (Al LaBrusciano); as well as his 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Bob was born to James R. and Catherine Jones, and grew up in the Wissahickon section of Philadelphia. He graduated from St. John's Boys' High School. Bob is a World War II veteran, having served in the Coast Guard from 1942-45. He was a chief petty officer and first served as a trainer of dogs used to patrol beaches for possible German soldiers coming inland from submarines along the coast. Bob then served at the Naval Air Station in Atlantic City, N.J., and ended at the Naval Air Station in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., as enlisted man in charge of airfield security. Recently, Bob visited the Coast Guard Stations in Lewes and Indian River.

Bob married the love of his life, Ursula Beaver, in 1944. They made a home first in Roxborough, Pa., where they raised their five children, and later in Andorra, Pa. Family always came first for Bob and Ursula. They were a role model of a loving relationship. Bob and Ursula shared a strong faith. They were members of St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk, Pa., and, later, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Andorra. Bob’s wife Ursula passed away in December 2015, after 72 years of marriage.

After the war, Bob worked for Nat Gas Company in Exton, Pa. He then joined the Philadelphia Fire Department in January 1948 where he was assigned to Engine 66 and transferred to Ladder 14 in 1955. Bob served as a firefighter from 1948 to 1957. He then joined the Fire Prevention Division where he served until his retirement in 1972. During this time he helped organize and run fire prevention programs presented in schools throughout the Philadelphia area. Bob was a regular on local children’s TV shows during Fire Prevention Week. These included Sally Starr, Gene London, Captain Kangaroo, Chief Halftown and Pixanne.

While in the fire department, Bob worked second jobs to help support his family. He held home demonstrations of toys and women’s hats, and worked as a tour director for Talmage Tours, taking groups of adults and schoolchildren to New York City and Washington D.C., among other places.

After his retirement from the fire department, Bob served as fire marshal for Temple University from 1972 until his final retirement in 1986. Bob and his wife enjoyed traveling, which was always centered around family.

Bob was well known in the Philadelphia area, having lived there most of his life. Since 2019, Bob has resided in Harbeson with his oldest daughter, Sharon DeMara, and her family.

Members of Bob's new community, Spring Breeze, hosted a surprise party for Bob Oct. 9. Organized by John Kinny, a retired Washington, D.C. fireman, members of the Lewes Fire Department and many neighbors drove by his house with sirens and horns blowing to wish him a happy birthday. Neighbors baked cakes and shared in cake and ice cream to celebrate Bob's milestone birthday. Bob's son-in-law, Philip De Mara, and a neighbor, Randy Oxen, played the Coast Guard anthem to honor his service.