Obituary of The Rev. Robert "Bob" Jones

Major (Retired) The Reverend Robert Arthur Jones, CD, known to all as Bob, passed away peacefully on 28 July 2026 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, at the age of ninety-five. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, reverend, and Canadian Armed Forces veteran, Bob lived a long and generous life marked, above all, by service, faith, humour, and deep community.

Born in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, on 25 May 1931, to Arthur and Harriet (née Titus), Bob was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Peter and David.

Bob carried his maritime roots with him wherever he went. He graduated from Acadia University in1963, was ordained in the Atlantic Baptist tradition the same year and served faithfully there until 1990; he later continued in the United Church of Canada Order from 1990 to his retirement in his nineties. His ministry took him to Halifax, Victoria, Whitehorse, and many communities in between, where he served both as a civilian and military reverend, and where his steady presence, easy smile, and thoughtful care left a lasting impression.

Bob answered the call to military service twice. He served as an RCAF radar operator from 1949 to 1953, and again as a Canadian Forces chaplain from 1965 to 1987. His service included chaplaincy with the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Airforce, and the Royal Canadian Navy. He also served overseas with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, the blue beret peacekeeping mission responsible for  maintaining the ceasefire and supervising the buffer zone between Israel and Syria. Whether in uniform, in the pulpit, or beside a troubled service member or grieving family, Bob brought the same compassion, calm, and sense of duty. He was Minister Emeritus of Wilmot United Church and of Forest Hill United Church, appointments that reflect the esteem in which he was held.

Bob was the devoted husband of Johanne Margaret (née Rutherford) for 64 years, and together they built a family rooted in love and resilience. He is lovingly remembered by their children Susan (Pal) of Halifax, Elizabeth (Guy, deceased) of Vancouver, and Ian (Jenn) of Thunder Bay; and by their grandchildren Kaite (James), Meaghan (Dannie), Hannah (Brandon), Louis, Emerald, Aria, and Delilah. He was also recently blessed to become a great-grandfather to Ella. His family was one of his greatest joys, and his legacy lives on in each of them.

Bob’s life was rich not only in service, but also in song, friendship, and faithful participation in community life. He sang in numerous choirs, including the Wilmot United Church Choir and the Fredericton Golden Club, and his voice was part of the worship and fellowship of many congregations. He was also deeply involved in Rotary, believing that community mattered and that good works were best done with others. Bob had a gift for making people feel welcome, and he carried that gift everywhere he went.

Bob had a remarkable knack for being exactly where he was needed, especially in the tender moments of life, including countless weddings, services, and committals. But those who know Bob will also remember his easygoing, fun-loving spirit, and his wonderful irreverence. And, as many will smile to recall, if there was an egg salad sandwich somewhere nearby, Bob had a knack for finding it. It became part of his legend: faithful, practical, and just a little bit delightfully unexpected.

He also had a sharp sense of humour and a robust love of life. Bob enjoyed cheeky classics like Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, and he never took himself too seriously. He was an avid baseball fan, devoted to his beloved New York Yankees, and in his younger years even hitchhiked from Nova Scotia to New York to catch a Yankees game. He was also an accomplished runner who competed in many races from 5km to marathon, including a marathon in the Golan Heights.

Bob’s life was a life of service in the truest sense: service to God, to country, to family, and to community. He lived with faith, humility, wit, and warmth, and he will be remembered with deep affection and gratitude. He has finally stood his last watch, and now, having served faithfully on every front of life, he is at rest.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Wilmot United Church, 473 King St., on Friday, 11 September 2026 at 1:00 pm. Reverend Ellen Beairsto will officiate. The service will also be available to view on the Wilmot United Church's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WilmotUnitedChurch/streams. Interment will take place in Petitcodiac, New Brunswick at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Wilmot United Church General Fund, to the Reverend Robert A. Jones Endowment Fund in support of the Charles J. Taylor Centre for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care at the Acadia Divinity College (specifically noting the Reverend Robert A. Jones Endowment Fund), or to the charity of your choice.