Arles Jones, 75

Arles D. Jones, 75, of Mountain Home, died Thursday, July 3, 2003, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, from injuries sustained during a fall.

At Arles' request no memorial service is planned. Cremation is under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Arles was born Feb. 3, 1928, in Princeton, N.J., the third child of Robert "Doc" and Leoda Jones.

Following completion of high school in Delmar, Del., where he was a member of the varsity football team, he began a long and successful career in the U.S. military, first in the Army and then in the Army Air Corps. In 1947, when the U.S. Air Force was established, he transferred into that new military branch of service. His career spanned four decades ending after 26 years of duty following enlistment in the Army under age. He served his country proudly and bravely during the final stages of World War II and then again in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict and finally in completing two tours in Vietnam as a first sergeant" in the late 1960s and early 1970s, receiving a Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

After retiring from the Air Force in March 1972 he worked for the Idaho Department of Labor before electing for full retirement in February 1982.

It was his military career that first brought him to Idaho when he received orders to Mountain Home AFB, in 1966. His love for Idaho was immediate and it became his permanent home after leaving military service, his family said, noting, "he loved all things related to Idaho from fishing, hunting, camping and taking backcountry trips with the use of his two mules."

He married his wife, Allene, on Oct. 12, 1976, and the two of them enjoyed many such trips and wonderful times together, his family said.

"He loved life and attempted to always live it to the fullest taking each day for what it offered. He was known as a generous man, his front door was always open and you only had to meet him to know you had made a new friend," his family said.

Arles belonged to and was an active member of both the Mason's and Elks organizations.

Arles is survived by: his wife, Allene (Turk); his children, Danny Jones and wife Linda of West Chester, Ohio; Laurel Miller, and Jacqueline Howard both of Olympia, Wash.; sister Winona Steele and her husband Al of Seaford, Del.; stepchildren Gene Yarnell of Spokane, Wash., and Larry Yarnell (Donna) of Seattle, Wash.; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; three brothers, Maynard, Robert and Jimmy Jones; son Arles, Jr., and stepdaughter Kathleen Smith.

At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the American Diabetes Association in memory of Arles at the following address: Always and forever Memorial and Honor Program, Attn: American Diabetes Association Web, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.