Robert Gregory (Greg) Jones Sr., 67, of Covington, passed away Thursday, May 23, 2019. 

He was born on Oct. 10, 1951 in Newton County to Fred Julius and Evelyn Marie (Cunard) Jones. As a young man, he was an active outdoorsman, a Boy Scout, and an avid baseball player in the Stewart Community of Newton County. He was a 1969 graduate of Newton High School, and a 1973 graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. 

Following college, he married Rita Gheesling - the love of his life. Early on, he worked as a radio newscaster, with stints at stations in Ashburn and Griffin, before moving home to become an editor for The Covington News. Subsequently, he worked for over 35 years as the Director of Public Relations for Oglethorpe Power Corporation in Tucker. Throughout his career, he was blessed with numerous valued friends and colleagues, all of whom were very dear to him.

Greg was an enthusiastic writer, photographer, little league coach, band booster, church deacon, guitarist, caregiver, soccer-dad, fisherman, amateur genealogist and connoisseur of good barbeque. He loved The Beatles and the Grateful Dead. He was the king of playful sarcasm, the maître d' of witty retorts, and was always the smartest guy in the room. 

Greg always put his family first in all that he did, and was the devoted and trusted patriarch of a sometimes-unruly brood. He was an exemplary son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, and will live on in all our hearts forever.  

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Rita.

He is survived by his three loving children: Rob (Kerry) Jones, of Mansfield, David (Joy) Jones, of Dacula, and Mandi (Patrick) Winders, of Roswell; four grandchildren that thought he hung the moon: Dylan Jones, Alex Jones, Mabry Jones, and Nora Winders; three siblings: Phil (Ana) Jones, of Sonoma, California, Sammy Jones, and Jennifer Jones, both of Covington; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws – all of whom he loved dearly.