Geraldine Jones

Age 92, of Chula Vista, CA passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2017. She was born on Jan. 11, 1925 in Kalamazoo, MI to Edgar G. Minckler and Grace Engles Minckler. She married James William Gilmartin in 1945, having one child, Cathie L. She later married Milford Henry Jones in 1951 and had two children Jeffrey M. and Sharon A. A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, Gerrie attended Michigan State College. In the mid-1960s, she designed and oversaw the construction of numerous homes in Country Club Village, Kalamazoo. She also worked in men's retail sales at Jacobson's, Kooi-Knappers, and Lew Hubbard's, Kalamazoo. She was a member of Daughters of the Nile. She enjoyed sewing, crafting, dancing, camping and traveling the United States, including trailering to Alaska when the road was still part gravel. In 2011, she moved to Chula Vista, CA to live with her daughter, though she never stopped identifying herself as a Michigander. Gerrie was preceded in death by Milford H. Jones (spouse), Edgar G. Minckler (father), Grace Engles Minckler (mother) and Claudette Van Velzen Thomas (half-sister). She is survived by her half-brother Mr. Theodore Van Velzen of Orting, WA, her children Mrs. Charles (Cathie) Sundry of Chula Vista, CA, Mr. Jeffrey Jones of Kalamazoo, MI, and Ms. Sharon Jones of Portage, MI, her grandchildren Mr. Haakon Sundry of Glendale, CA, and Ms. Cailin Sundry of West Hollywood, CA, and several nephews and cousins. Viewing and visitation will take place at 10:30 am followed by services at 11:30 am on Thursday, August 31 at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park Chapel, 3941 South Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. Interment to immediately follow. Friends and relatives are asked to consider a memorial donation to the American Bird Conservancy, in lieu of flowers.