Obituary of David Eugene Jones

David Eugene Jones, of Orono, ME, born July 25, 1939, in Dayton, OH, passed peacefully on September 22, 2023, after a battle with cancer. In the days leading up to his death, he was surrounded by family and friends who loved him.

David grew up in Vandalia Ohio, where he became an Eagle Scout. David graduated from Butler High School after which he joined the Army, later using the GI Bill to obtain his teaching degree from the University of Maine. Long before and long after his formal teaching career, David was, in his very essence, a teacher. Whether it was teaching a 6 year old about the difference between the speed of light and the speed of sound at a Cincinnati Reds game, or enhancing the lives of the children of Old Capehart with recreational, nutritional and educational programs, or teaching boy scouts how to survive in and respect the wilderness, or spending the afternoon helping a neighborhood boy build a skateboard from scratch, or sharing with a child the art of baking bread, or working in his woodshop with his children and grandchildren, or tirelessly helping his wife in her classroom during her teaching career, David was most comfortable in the role of sharing knowledge in ways that connected with those around him. His impact to those in his communities was deeply and widely felt.

David is survived by Nadine (Cota) Jones, his wife of 44 years; his children: Cecelia Jones Pan and her husband Davis Pan of Arlington, MA and grandson Alexander Pan; Angela Jones of Concord, NH, and granddaughter Christina Clark; Jennifer Jones and her wife Elizabeth Collins of Concord, NH and grandchildren Keagan Collins and Delaney Collins; Kellie Jones and her husband Jens Jorgensen of Quincy, MA, Christopher Haskell of Hollis Center, ME, and Matthew Haskell and his wife Evelina Haskell of Blue Hill, ME. David is also survived by his brother, Edgar Jones and his wife Betty-Lou, of Portland, ME; and his sister Karen (Jones) Sipos and her husband Jim Sipos, of Englewood, OH and many nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply. David was also a long time member (by marriage) of the Cota Family and is survived by Diane Cota-O’Connell of Indianapolis, IN, Don Cota and his partner Rae, of Greenville, ME; Mike Cota and his wife Patty of Harpswell, ME; Mary Ellen Cota Dow of Auburn, ME; Charles Cota and his partner Cindy of Madawaska, ME; Irene Williamson and her husband Butch of Amelia, VA, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply. David was predeceased by his parents Robert G. Jones, Sr., and Laura A. (Clack) Jones, his brothers Alfred C. Jones of Vandalia, OH; Robert G. Jones, Jr. of Vandalia, OH: Phillip P. Jones of Dayton, OH; his sister, Betsy (Jones) Coffey and her husband Donald, of Vandalia, OH and his first wife Keta (Becker) Jones of Concord, NH.

A service and funeral liturgy honoring David will be held 4:15 PM Friday, Sept 29, 2023 at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. Family and friends may visit from 3 PM until the service begins. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Downeast School, a school that held a special place in David’s heart. Information for donations can be found at https://www.bangorschools.net/donate/david-jones-memorial/. Messages and memories may be shared with his family on the tribute wall of kileyandfoley.com.