Philip Jones

Philip M. Jones, 75, of Hillsdale, NJ, a Vietnam veteran, passed away on Sept. 3, 2025. He was born in Belmond, Iowa, and spent many years of his life in Framingham, MA, before moving to Hillsdale.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Phil served as a mechanic with Squadron VA-212 and accompanied them aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19) during a 1972-73 combat tour in Southeast Asia. He enjoyed attending reunions every other year as a member of the USS Hancock Association. Phil was also a member of American Legion Post 162 in Hillsdale.

Following active duty, he applied his learned skills to accounting departments in aerospace - first at Bendix in Teterboro, and later as a cost estimator at Breeze-Eastern in Whippany, from which he retired in 2016.

Phil was an avid rail fan and enjoyed his evenings by viewing YouTube and live streams of Amtrak No. 3, the Southwest Chief, make stops at Fort Madison, IA and La Plata, MO In person, he "rail-fanned" at renowned locations such as Tehachapi Loop in California and Horseshoe Curve in Pennsylvania, and he visited many train museums.

He leaves his wife of 51 years, June Jones (nee Weisgerber); two children, Kelleigh O'Hara and Brendan Jones; a brother, William Jones of Manchester, CT; and a brother-in-law, Chester Drake of Charlton, MA, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, John and Mary, and by a brother, John Jones.

Memorial donations may be made to the USS Hancock Memorial Fund, c/o Don Yeggy, Treasurer, 1129 Tulip Ave., Riverside, IA 52327, or Moms in Prayer International, P.O. Box 460008, Escondido, CA 92046.

A memorial service will be held at Pascack Bible Church in Hillsdale on Saturday, Oct. 18. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a service at 11:30 a.m.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Philip Jones, please visit our flower store.