Mr. Eugene Wesley Jones, age 87 of Ellijay died Sunday August 18 2019. Mr. Jones was born May 9, 1932 in Ellijay GA. He is the son of the late Randall Jones and Hazel Wood. He was a member of Cartecay Methodist Church.

He is preceded in death by his wife Cora Elizabeth Jones and brothers Ermel Jones and Roy Wood.

Survivors include Daughter: Deborah Glover, Cherokee, NC, Daughter and son-in-law: Brenda and Jim Davis, Chatsworth, Son: Jamie Jones, Ellijay, 5 Grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, Brothers and sisters in law: Mack and Linda Wood, Ellijay,George and Carol Wood, TN, and Richard and Angie Wood, Ellijay, Sister: Cheryl Worley, Ellijay, Sister-in-law: Nancy Ingram, Cumming.

Gene enlisted in the Army in 1949 just after his 16th birthday. By 1951 he was fighting in Korea and was promoted to Master Sergeant, then the highest enlisted rank at the age of 19. Gene’s long career was punctuated by overseas tours of duty to Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and Turkey. Gene was also wounded while fighting in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive of 1968. At the end of his career, he had risen to the highest enlisted rank, that of Command Sergeant Major, and served as the senior enlisted soldier at III Corps at Fort Hood, TX, one of the largest military installations in the world. While there his responsibilities included oversight of more than 50,000 soldiers, their families, and civilian employees. After his retirement from the Army in 1978 he served as the Gilmer County Fire Chief for 17 years. He was also selected as Gilmer County’s first Citizen of the Year.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday August 20 at 3:00 pm from the chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Cochran officiating. Interment will be held Wednesday August 21 at 11:30 am at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton GA,with military rites by the United States Army.

The family will receive friends Tuesday August 20 from 9:00 am until the funeral hour of 3:00 pm at the funeral home.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of Arrangements.