Edwin P Jones

Edwin Pitchford Jones III, 85, of Hiawassee, Georgia, passed away after a long fight with cancer on July 20, 2026.

Ed was born on November 20, 1940, in Orlando, Florida, to Sara McCormick Jones and Edwin P. Jones II. He graduated from Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, before attending the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. While at Florida, he was an officer in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and remained a devoted Gators fan throughout his life.

Following graduation, Ed began a distinguished career as a mechanical engineer. He worked with a University of Florida research team before joining Radiation, Incorporated in Melbourne, Florida, where he helped design equipment supporting the Apollo space program and projects during the Vietnam War. He also served on a team that inspected underground military shelters during the Vietnam era. In the 1970s, Ed became a Certified Contractor for the State of Florida and founded Ed Jones Steel Buildings, Inc., where he built a successful business through hard work, integrity, and determination.

After retiring in the early 1990s, Ed and his beloved wife, Verlee, moved to Hiawassee, where they built the home they cherished together and enjoyed the mountain community for the remainder of his life.

Although engineering was his profession, shooting sports became his lifelong passion. A National Pistol and Rifle Champion, Ed devoted countless hours to promoting firearm safety, education, and responsible sportsmanship. He became an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor and Certified Trainer, teaching students of all ages and skill levels.

For 18 years, Ed taught BB gun safety and marksmanship to middle school students, introducing generations of young people to the shooting sports in a safe, disciplined, and encouraging environment. He also coached the local high school air rifle team, mentoring students in competition while emphasizing responsibility, confidence, and respect. To many of the children he taught, he wasn't simply an instructor—he was 'Mr. Ed.' Long after his students had grown up, they would still stop to greet him around town with a cheerful, 'Hi, Mr. Ed!' A smile from a former student was one of his greatest rewards.

Ed is perhaps best remembered as the President of the Chatuge Gun Club in Towns County, Georgia. Serving as its president for more than 28 years, he transformed the organization from fewer than 100 members into more than 900 members. Under his leadership, the club expanded competitive handgun and rifle events, introduced firearm safety classes, and inspired many members to become certified instructors themselves.

The club became known not only for excellence in the shooting sports, but also commitment to community service. Through Ed's leadership, it established scholarships for graduating high school seniors, organized fundraising events that benefited local fire departments and sheriffs offices, proudly supported girls' high school softball programs, and made donations to the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes. His efforts earned him numerous awards from the National Rifle Association, but he was most proud of the people he taught, the friendships he built, and the opportunities he created for others.

A gifted woodworker who especially enjoyed building gliders and model airplanes, Ed approached every hobby with the same curiosity, precision, and craftsmanship that defined his career. He was known for being exceptionally intelligent, quick-witted, talented, determined, and strong-willed. Those who knew him best understood that if Ed believed in something, he pursued it with perseverance and excellence.

Ed believed deeply in giving back to his community. He encouraged support for charitable causes and educational scholarships for local high school students, a legacy that reflected his lifelong desire to help others learn, grow, and succeed.

Ed shared more than 62 years of marriage with the love of his life, Verlee, whom he married on May 2, 1964. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, friendship, and shared adventures. He is survived by Verlee Jones and by several beloved nieces and nephews in Florida.

A Celebration of Life will be held  August 8, 2026 at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home in Hiawassee, Georgia. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow at Christ the King Church in Hiawassee.

Whether in an engineering shop, on the firing line, or in his own workshop, Ed found his greatest satisfaction in sharing his knowledge and helping others succeed. He will be remembered for a life built with skill, integrity, generosity, and quiet dedication to those around him.