Robert Joseph Jones Sr., 83, of Hendersonville, TN passes away

 Robert J. Jones, Sr.

October 6, 1939 — August 7, 2023

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Robert Joseph Jones Sr., 83, of Hendersonville, Tennessee passed away unexpectedly on August 7th.  Bob was born on October 6, 1939, to Robert Martin Coleman and Joan Jones in Loma Linda California.  After graduating from Bakersfield High School, Bob went on to Pasadena College, now known as Loma Linda University.  

While in high school, he approached the prettiest girl in school and asked why she was dating some other guy when she could be dating him.  Marilyn Sturdevant was offended by his boldness, they married on June 26th, 1959, and celebrated 64 beautiful years together.

Bob and Marilyn have two children.  Bob is predeceased by his son Dr. Jeffrey Alan Jones.  He is survived by his wife Marilyn Jones, his son Robb, his wife Lesa, Jeff’s wife Amy, and his grandchildren Casey, Elizabeth, and Madeline and his sister Janice Goodall.    

Bob’s two biggest passions were flying and most of all singing southern gospel music. Bob began singing with the SongFellows Quartet in 1959.  He stepped off the quartet bus in the early 70s to raise his family.   He would go on to have a very successful career in the piano & organ industry.  Over the next forty years, he was a leader at various companies including GM of Sales at Steinway, CEO at Baldwin, President of Samick USA, and President of a Christian record label called The Benson Company.  Once his boys were grown and his career established, he returned to his love of singing gospel music sharing the gospel, and touring all over the country as recently as earlier this summer.

Bob got his private pilot’s license in 1967 so that he could visit piano dealers in rural areas of his sales territory.  Flying became a lifelong passion.  While he was the General Sales Manager for Steinway, living in New York, flew himself and his family from New York to California two summers in a row in his Beechcraft Bonanza to visit family.

His wife, sons, and grandkids were the most important and special things in his life.  Going places and sending quality time with them made life special.  He loved to talk about ski vacations with Marlyn and the boys to Colorado and the memories that they made there.

He will be greatly missed.