E. Weldon Jones, 89, business owner

E. Weldon Jones, 89, of Malvern, a decorated World War II veteran and owner of Jones Disposal, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Paoli Memorial Hospital from complications of pneumonia.

Mr. Jones and his identical twin, Edgar Kinzer Jones, were born in the Homeopathic Hospital in West Chester. Mr. Jones grew up near the Paoli Train Yard and attended Tredyffrin/Easttown schools; his twin died of an infection at age 4.

During World War II, Mr. Jones was drafted as a private first class and eventually deployed with the Ninth Armored Division to central Europe. In March 1945, he participated in the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany, which provided the first Allied foothold east of the Rhine River.

The Ninth Division disarmed explosives set by the Nazis before they could destroy the span. Mr. Jones told family that his was one of the first trucks to cross the bridge after the capture. "He didn't know if he would make it," his daughter, Cheryl Ann Force, said he told her.

Mr. Jones was decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal with one bronze star.

After an honorable discharge in February 1946, Mr. Jones returned to the United States and worked at driving a taxi and delivering mail while building his disposal business in Paoli. Later, the firm moved to Malvern.

He operated the business from 1951 until 1983, when he retired because his wife, Charlotte Jefferis Whitworth, was in failing health. She died in 1997.

Not one to sit still for long, Mr. Jones went to work part time for the next 15 years at White Manor County Club in Malvern.

"He loved every minute of cutting grass and being on the golf course," Force said.

Mr. Jones enjoyed trips to the coast of Maine, drives through Lancaster County, playing golf, fishing, driving his truck to the Wawa mini-mart with his dog, Ariel, and hosting family gatherings.

Mr. Jones was a lifelong Democrat. He was baptized and joined the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli. He also was an original member of the Paoli VFW Post 5203 with 65 years of service. It has since merged with another post.

He cared for the safety and welfare of children and animals, so much so that the slogan "Watch That Child" was painted on his trash trucks. He contributed to the Chester County SPCA, the Feed the Children program, and supported the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation at Pine Ridge, S.D., by purchasing a blanket made by its children.

He was a generous, quiet provider for his in-laws. "He always made sure his extended family had everything, and didn't ask for anything in return," Force said.

Surviving, besides his daughter, are two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and nieces and nephews. A sister and another brother died earlier.

A life celebration will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Mauger/Givnish Funeral Home, 24 Monument Ave., Malvern. A funeral will follow at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, in the Chapel of the Church of the Good Samaritan, 212 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli. Interment is in Good Samaritan Cemetery.

Donations may be made to any organization that benefits children or animals, or to Paoli Memorial Hospital via www.mainlinehealth.org/paoli/ways-to-give.