Obituaries

He was born in Baileys Crossroads and went to a segregated school in Fairfax County before attending Davis Music Conservatory in the District.

After joining the Army in 1942, he participated in the second wave of the invasion of Normandy during World War II. While stationed in Paris, he played alto saxophone in the unit band to lift the morale of fellow soldiers.

After the war, Mr. Jones played in D.C. jazz clubs until he "had a religious experience," said his wife, Mary Jones. He then played only in churches and for other groups.

He was a pianist and organist for 41 years at Salem Baptist Church in Washington, where he was a member. He also played for Shiloh Baptist Church in the District and New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Chapel Oaks, where he most recently attended.

Active in fraternal organizations, he was a life member of Bethea-Welch Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7284 and a member for 59 years of the Doric Masonic Lodge, both in Washington. He was the lodge's pianist and was awarded the title musician emeritus in 1989.

In Chapel Oaks, he was the civic association's block captain for more than 40 years.

His first wife, Lenora Jones, died in 1988. A son from an earlier relationship, Spencer Champ, died in 2003. A son from his first marriage, Kenneth Jones, died in 2002.

Besides his second wife, of Chapel Oaks, survivors include a daughter from his first marriage, Monica J. Thompson of Forestville; nine stepchildren; a sister; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb

Robert T. HerresJoint Chiefs Vice Chairman

Robert T. Herres, 75, a retired Air Force four-star general who served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Gen. Colin L. Powell, died July 24 at his home in San Antonio. He had brain cancer.