Francis Shepard “Shep” Jones

LTC (ret) Francis Shepard “Shep” Jones, 87, a lifelong resident of Bennington, passed away July 21, 2023 in Bennington Vermont. Shep was born in Bennington on June 1, 1936 the son of the late Franklin Peene and Margaret Shepard Jones. He attended the Bennington Graded School (K), the Pleasant Valley School, a one room school (1-5), Hoosac School (6-7), Bennington High School (8-12), and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physics at Middlebury College. He married Margaret (Peggy) Dodd on Nov. 30, 1957 in Middlebury. He served on active duty from 1957-1977 in the US Army Ordinance Corps in various worldwide assignments. He was awarded a Purple Heart for minor injuries sustained in Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit medal in recognition of his management of the Army’s tank-automotive inventory in Europe. He retired from the Army in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Returning to Bennington, he and Peggy purchased Taylor Rental, which they rebranded as EZ Way Rental and operated for 20 years before passing on the business. After retiring again, he worked part time supporting his son Frank’s business designing and manufacturing specialty motors and electronics for robotics and energy conversion. Shep was a member of the Bennington Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Retail Association, the American Rental Association, and the Bennington School Board. He sang with the Bennington County Choral Society, the Serenity Singers and the Second Congregational Church Choir. Shep enjoyed genealogy, travelling the world, especially cruises with Peggy and his daughters, was an opera buff and organized the monthly opera program at Brookdale at Fillmore Pond.Shep is survived by his children Frank Jones (Lori) of Shrewsbury, MA, Carol Sawyer (Tom) of Mesa, AZ and Sarah Lein (Don) of Orlando, FL, brother William “Bill” Jones (Chris) of Mineral, VA, sister Elizabeth (Betsy) Macomber (Don) of Richmondville, NY, 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Peggy) Dodd Jones, son George Shepard Jones, and his granddaughter Emily Anne Lein.A Service of Remembrance will be held Saturday, July 29 at 10:00 AM in the Moses Room in the main building at Brookdale at Fillmore Pond at 300 Village Lane, Bennington, VT. If friends desire, memorial gifts in Shep’s memory may be made to McCullough Free Library in North Bennington, VT, c/o Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home P.O. Box 957 Bennington, VT 05201. To send the family personal condolences please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT.