Roberta Pauline Mary Jones

Roberta "Paula" Jones (nee Cousins), 88, of Wenatchee, died Monday, April 19, 2010, at the Central Washington Hospital. Paula was born in Devonshire, in the south of England, on September 8, 1921, where she developed her lifelong love of reading and horses. As a young woman during World War II, she worked in a plant that manufactured airplane parts in Bristol. She then helped her mother transform their home into a bed and breakfast to house American troops. Among these was a young Arkansan named Buck Russell, whom she married in 1944, just prior to his joining the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. After a two-year separation, she joined 300 other war brides aboard the aptly named transport ship "USS Santa Paula," en route to New York. She later recalled how most of the passengers were seasick throughout the majority of the voyage. Paula took a train from New York to her new home in Washington State, where her husband had settled in Tonasket and where they eventually purchased an orchard. They also began their family life together with the advent of daughters, Ann and Mary. She received her U.S. citizenship in 1955. The couple eventually divorced and Paula married Jesse Jones, an employee of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Coulee City, where she took a job as a waitress in the Dry Falls Cafe;. Following Jesse's retirement, the pair moved to the Wenatchee Area, where Paula worked at the Wenatchee Golf & Country Club. Jesse died in 1994. Paula spent her retirement pursuing a variety of interests, such as gardening, card-playing and art, becoming a member of the Cascade Artists. She also maintained her lifelong love of reading and books filled her shelves. She also took on a new role of grandmother to Ann's and Mary's children and enjoyed the holidays and other occasions when the family would all be together. The arrival of the three great-grandchildren made those times that much sweeter. She particularly loved the late night Scrabble and Upwords sessions with her children and grandchildren. Paula later moved into assisted living at Columbia Heights in Wenatchee, where she immediately made new friends and established herself as an active member of the new community. She also reaffirmed her faith and regularly attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She died with her loving family by her side. Paula was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Jones; and niece, Angela Davies (Cardiff, Wales). She is survived by her daughters, Ann Thrasher of Leavenworth and Mary Kanter and her husband, Gary of Sammamish; brother, Peter Cousins and his wife, Jean of Cardiff, Wales; niece, Philippa Cousins; nephew, Paul Cousins; grandchildren, Todd Thrasher and his wife, Holly, Jill Storlie and her husband, Chuck, Sarah Kanter and Carrie Kanter; great-grandchildren, Seth Storlie, Peyton Thrasher and Ellie Thrasher; and stepchildren, Julie Tenant and Bill Jones. A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wenatchee. An Inurnment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, East Wenatchee. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Special Olympics, St. Joseph's School or any charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Roberta Pauline Mary Jones

September 8, 1921 - April 19, 2010