Thaddeus M. Jones Sr.

OBITUARY

THADDEUS MARCELLUS JONES, SR. WAS BORN ON JUNE 14, 1948 TO FREDERICK DOUGLAS HENRY AND EMMA LEE JONES IN PHILADELPHIA, PA.

FIVE SIBLINGS PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH: FOUR BROTHERS, MELVIN, FREDERICK, BERNARD AND PATRICK AND ONE SISTER, VERONICA JONES.

THADDEUS COMPLETED HIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION WITHIN THE PHILADELPHIA ARCHDIOCESE AT ST. ELIZABETH’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS AN ALTAR SERVER.

THADDEUS ATTENDED ROMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO SIMON GRATZ HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE EXCELLED IN FOOTBALL AND TRACK & FIELD.  HE EARNED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP AND ATTENDED JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

WHILE ATTENDING JACKSON STATE, THADDEUS MET GLORIA (NEE SANDERS), A FELLOW STUDENT.  THEY BEGAN DATING AND WERE SOON MAKING PLANS FOR THEIR LIFE TOGETHER IN PHILADELPHIA. 

WITHIN MONTHS OF GRADUATING FROM JACKSON STATE, THADDEUS AND GLORIA WERE MARRIED IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1972.

IN THIS UNION OF 23 YEARS, ROCHELLE LUANA (NEE JONES) AND THADDEUS MARCELLIUS JONES II WERE BORN.  THADDEUS WAS THE FOREVER DOTING FATHER AND ALWAYS BRAGGED ABOUT HIS CHILDREN GETTING THEIR GOOD LOOKS FROM HIM.

THADDEUS EARNED HIS MASTERS DEGREE FROM ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA AND ALSO MATRICULATED CLASSES AT ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA WHILE TEACHING IN THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE HE TAUGHT PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION AND COACHED FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL.

THADDEUS WAS AN AVID SPORTS FAN AND ATTENDED MANY PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS.  HE ATTENDED THE SUPER BOWL IN NEW ORLEANS IN 1981, THE OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES IN 1984.

HE LOVED TO TRAVEL, VISITING CANADA, FRANCE, EGYPT AND MANY OTHER NOTABLE PLACES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

LATER IN LIFE THADDEUS DECIDED TO EXCHANGE THE BUSY LIFE OF THE CITY AND MOVED TO THE QUIET AND TRANQUIL POCONO MOUNTAINS WHERE HE ENJOYED FISHING AND HIKING.

THADDEUS LEAVES TO MOURN: DAUGHTER, ROCHELLE THOMAS; SON, THADDEUS MARCELLUS JONES, II; SON-IN-LAW, JT THOMAS; TWO GRANDSONS, JARED JERMAINE THOMAS AND AARON JAMES THOMAS; TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, RACQUEL JANELLE THOMAS AND LEILA JADE JONES; SISTERS, WANDA WHEELER, BERTHA YVONNE JONES, LEILA POUNCY, SERENA DARGAN AND ANITA HILLIARD; EX-WIFE, GLORIA J. JONES; AND A HOST OF RELATIVES, NIECES, NEPHEWS AND MANY FRIENDS.

SUBMITTED WITH LOVE,

THE FAMILY

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