Wm. Southard Jones, Jr., VMD

Born: 10/19/1943 Died: 6/17/2013 Dr. Wm. Southard Jones, Jr., age 69, of New Castle, DE, passed away on Monday, June 17, 2013, holding his wife’s hand and surrounded by his family. A native Delawarean, Dr. Jones was born in Wilmington on October 19, 1943. The son of the late William Southard Jones, Sr. and Dorothy Taylor Jones, he resided for a large portion of his childhood on a 50-acre farm on Red Mill Road with many exotic animals, including buffalo, monkeys, bear, and coatimundi. He graduated from Newark High School in 1961, from the University of Delaware in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences, and from Virginia Tech in 1967 with a master’s degree in animal science. He went on to earn his veterinarian medical degree (VMD) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1971. Upon graduation, Dr. Jones joined the US Army as a captain in the veterinary corps. He opened Red Lion Veterinary Hospital in 1978. Today, the hospital continues as a family-run practice, a legacy he passed down to two of his children, Dr. Courtney Manetti and Dr. Luke Jones. Dr. Jones enjoyed frequent visits to his Pathfinder Angus cattle farm in Virginia, as well as sailing on the Eastern Shore. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patricia Joan Petroccione Jones; his children, Courtney Manetti (Vinnie) of Bear, DE, Southard Jones (Shelly) of Walnut Creek, CA, Adam Jones (Jenni) of Landenberg, PA, Luke Jones (Lauren) of Wilmington, DE, and Kathleen Jones of Napa, CA; grandchildren, Vinnie, Maggie, Liam, Gavin, Stella, and Quinn; brothers, Barrett, Stephen, and Bruce; and his faithful cat, Joey. He spent every day fighting for one more day to spend with his children, grandchildren, and, most importantly, his beloved wife. Visitation will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, June 20th, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 am on Friday, June 21st, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton R.C. Church, 345 Bear-Christiana Road, Bear, DE 19701. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, c/o St. Elizabeth Ann Seton R.C. Church, at the address above.