Obituary of Joseph Martin Jones

Joseph Martin Jones, son of the late Elmer and Esther Jones of West Virginia, passed away on April 22, 2020 at the age of eighty-eight in his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Joe earned his Bachelors of Science in mathematics and physics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his Masters of Psychology from the University of West Florida.  He served a tour of duty in the Navy during the Korean War.

His more than thirty year career as a Department of Defense civilian focused on Artificial Intelligence and Human Factors Engineering assisting the Navy at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He tirelessly studied the correlation between vocal characteristics and mental states of mind, and authored, “Sound, Language, and Awareness Psychology” in 1985. He also served as an engineer for Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen.

Joe loved music; he played the organ and cello, but primarily the piano. He wrote a play-by-ear piano manual for novice pianists. He started a band in high school that he continued throughout his undergraduate years, even playing for local events. Joe continued his love for music through playing the cello in the Fort Walton Beach, Florida Community Symphony for many years. Joe also cultivated a passion for philosophy and politics. He enjoyed renovating homes to include his own home, and teaching others the skill of reconstruction, and exploring business opportunities in real estate and stock market ventures.

Joe was a beloved man and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Ann Madden Jones, his son Roger Jones; daughter Joanye Pitts; grandchildren Andrew, Clara, Ann and Jack. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, Joe is remembered as a patient and contemplative family man.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Karin Jones from Denver, Colorado, and his brother, David Jones, from Fresno, California.

The family will have a private graveside service at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, North Carolina.

The Jones family is under the care of Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.