Ancel A. Jones, age 96, of O'Fallon, Ill., born August 6, 1918 in Strawberry, Ark. passed from this life March 9, 2015 at Breese Nursing Home, Breese, Ill. with his family by his side.

Mr. Jones started his career by joining the CCCs in 1934 as a teenager to help support his poor family of 11 brothers and sisters. In 1940 he joined the Army National Guard at Sikeston, Mo. and trained troops in the 140th Infantry which was called up for WWII. During the war and while stationed in California, Ancel met the love of his life, Irene Miller, whom he married March 13, 1943 in Santa Monica, Calif. He stayed in the service after WWII, transferring to the Air Force in 1948. He then cross-trained into the Civil Engineering field. During his 30 years of service, he was stationed at Scott AFB (3 times), Tokyo, Japan, Lajes Azores, Robert Gray AFB, Tex., Blytheville, Ark, Republic of Vietnam, Anderson AFB, Guam and many other posts during WWII. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant July 1970.

During his retirement years he became a terrific gardener and raised huge gardens that he shared with most of O'Fallon, usually distributing his produce during "happy hour" at the O'Fallon American Legion. He was always a diehard Cardinal fan; he could name most of their players since 1940! Ancel was probably O'Fallon's greatest outdoorsman; he hunted deer in Illinois, Missouri, and Maryland every year for 40 years. He and his buddies went to a Louisiana swamp rabbit hunting more than 10 times. He never missed a Missouri turkey season. He had a natural talent to train champion hunting dogs; his beagles and squirrel dogs were the best. He had a great 45-year retirement doing the things he loved. He was a member of O'Fallon Masonic Lodge AF & AM 576 and American Legion Post 137.

He was preceded in death by his parents William L. and Minerva, nee Martin, Jones, sons Terry Jones and Stanley Jones.

Ancel is survived by and will be dearly missed by his wife Irene, nee Miller, Jones ; sons Gale (Jan) Jones of Leonardtown, Md. and Danny (Dawn) Jones of Carlyle, Ill. and 10 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Ancel had 8 brothers and 3 sisters of which 5 survive him.

Memorial donations are suggested to Disabled American Veterans.

Visitation: Friends may call from 10 am – Noon, Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home.
Funeral Service: Noon, Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the funeral home with Pastor Don Andreasen officiating.

Interment: Procession will depart the funeral home 9:15 am, Friday, March 13, 2015 for a graveside service with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis County, Mo.