Lester R. Jones, age 97, of Crawfordsville, Iowa, died Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at the Henry County Health Center following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6th at the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church in rural Columbus City, Iowa, with Pastor Dottie Halverson officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Tuesday, July 5th at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Interment with military honors will take place at the Cambrian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a general memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent for Lester's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Lester was born March 30, 1919, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, the son of Hugh and Bessie (Rees) Jones. He attended school in Crawfordsville and graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1937. Lester served honorably in the United States Army from 1942 until 1945. He was united in marriage to Marion J. Williams on March 19, 1954, in Muscatine, Iowa.

Lester farmed in the Crawfordsville area most of his life. He was a member of the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church and a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife, Marion Jones of Crawfordsville, Iowa; daughter, Karen Greiner and husband Eugene of Harper, Iowa; daughter, Ruthie Larsen and husband Clint of Jacksonville, Florida; daughter, Shirley Temple and husband Jeff of Crawfordsville, Iowa; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, John Harold Jones of Crawfordsville, Iowa; sister-in-law, Marjorie Gamon Jones of Wellman, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Thomas Jones and wife Lois, William "Bill" Jones and wife Phyllis, and Robert Jones; an infant sister, Margaret Jones; and one sister-in-law, Marjorie Ritter Jones.