Fred Jones’ Rogues Gallery photo
All Rogues Gallery photos were made in a room in Bldg 227 at Norton AFB
Fred Jones, born Garfield Frederick Jones on May 20, 1927, died at his home in Crestline, California on February 4, 2022. He was the oldest of four brothers, Bill, Gordon, Robert and one sister, Marilyn, born to, parents, Garfield Hartley and Millicent Jones. All were Canadian citizens except Fred who was born when his parents were on an extended visit to Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother’s Bill and Robert.
He began his adult life in 1943 when as a 16-year-old when he went to New York City and followed by landing a job at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT. A year later in 1943 he began his life as a sailor when he joined the Merchant Marines and began working on a Liberty Ship carrying war supplies to Guam and Saipan in the South Pacific.
Following World War II, he received a letter from President Harry Truman thanking him for his service and indicating he had fulfilled his military obligations. However, in 1951 when the Korean War broke out, he and a friend were drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned as radio operators in 2nd Armored Division in Germany. Prior to going to Germany, he married Beatrice Kurtz. They had a daughter who became a Catholic nun, Sister Christa Mary-Jones. He and Beatrice later divorced.
After the war he continued his seagoing career by joining the Maritime Union as an able seaman on a ship sailing around the world for nine months. This was the beginning of many seaborn adventures that continued off and on for the rest of his life. After a brief stint he relocated to Los Angeles where he was the quartermaster on the Catalina Cruise ship. A passing interest in photography led him to use his VA Education Bill to enroll in Brooks Institute of Photography. Not liking their plan for his photographic life, he quit after four months and in 1957 returned to New York where he attended the New York Institute of Photography.
He returned to Los Angeles and began working at Det 13, 1369th Photographic Squadron as a civilian photographer. He met Patty Hall, nee Buckner who later assumed the name Jones. The two of them lived in Sunset Beach, CA for four years. When Fred lost his Air Force job, they toured Europe in a VW camper for six months. Returning to California they continued their peripatetic life with another VW bus from Los Angeles through Mexico to Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize.
After returning Fred was hired at Norton AFB, San Bernardino, CA and bought his house in Crestline and Patty decided to continue traveling and went to Nairobi, Kenya. Fred worked as photographer and portrait “guru” traveling worldwide photographing Air Force events and conducting portrait seminars for hundreds of Air Force photographers before retiring in 1988 after ten years of service.
Upon retiring he returned to his seagoing life making many relief trips as a boatswain between California and Hawaii. Asia, especially Thailand was always attractive to Fred, so much so that in 2002 after numerous vacation trips to Thailand he purchased a house on the island of Koh Samui. He annually would leave the cold weather of Crestline and go visit with his brother Bill and family in New Zealand for two weeks, before going to his “warm” Thai home.
After ten years, the gentrification on Koh Samui, advancing age and the realization that he had enough Thai-tailor made clothing to last forever. He settled into retirement continuing to see his beloved Patty and the many friends he had made over the years.
Editor’s Note: Funeral or memorial services are still pending for Fred.