Obituary: William Robert Jones

William Robert Jones, 82, of Irvington, N.Y., and Longboat Key, died Jan. 27.

Born May 10, 1931, in Irvington, N.Y., he graduated cum laude in 1953 from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y. He studied for a year at the Episcopal Theological School, in Cambridge, Mass., and for three years at the Union Theological Seminary, in Broadway, N.Y., where he earned a master’s degree.

Mr. Jones was ordained to the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church and subsequently served as associate minister of St. Andrews Church in Yonkers, N.Y., until joining the overseas department of the national church in 1959.

After studying Japanese at the Yale University School of Far Eastern Languages, Mr. Jones and his family moved to Japan, and he served in the Diocese of Osaka of the Anglican Church of Japan for six years. He then served as rector of St. David’s and St. John’s churches in Orange County, N.Y., upon returning to the United States.

In 1968, Mr. Jones redirected his career to the field of pediatric rehabilitation medicine. He held administrative positions at Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City, St. Agnes Children’s Center, in White Plains, N.Y. and Blythedale Children’s Hospital, in Valhalla, N.Y.

Mr. Jones retired to Longboat Key and spent summers at his family home on Long Beach Island, N.J. He was active in the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning Global Issues Program and served on its board of directors for several terms.

Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his first wife, Emily Alison Howden.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Lowden; sons, William Winslow, of Irvington, N.Y., Pearce Richard, of Dripping Springs, Texas, Peter Howden, of Irvington, N.Y., and Andrew Arthur, of Bangor, Maine; sister, Alice Dorn, of Suffield, Mass.; brother, John Thomas, of Princeton, N.J.; nine grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders, doctorswithoutborders.org. A celebration of Mr. Jones’ life will be held at a later date.