John David Jones, a beloved husband, father, brother, papa, uncle, cousin, employer and friend, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2023 surrounded by his family and many lifelong friends in Wilmington, NC.  

John was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 5, 1957, the third of five children to his late father, Edward “Ed” Jones, and mother, Anne Lemrise Jones. John and his siblings moved up and down the eastern coast throughout his father’s career in the United States Coast Guard, where they settled in Oak Island, NC. John met and fell in love with his beautiful wife Gina in high school. They were married on August 21, 1977 at Southport Presbyterian Church. The following year, they welcomed their daughter Megan. 

John began working at his family’s restaurant, Jones’ Seafood of Oak Island as a teenager. It was his love for making others smile and working with those he loved that led him to own his own seafood restaurants, both in Wilmington, NC and later in Oak Island, NC. John was the life of any gathering and those that knew him well thought of him as the best negotiator for a good deal and quite the confidant. John found an immeasurable amount of joy spending time with his family and friends. He loved a big crowd, dancing, and attending concerts and antiquing with his wife. John looked forward to taking his grandson Hunter to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA annually where they’d spend their week in the company of family and friends. He loved taking his granddaughter Channing for dune buggy rides down to the beach and playing hide-and-seek with his youngest granddaughter, Raine. He loved “riding down the road a minute” with his daughter Megan, where they’d often come back with presents for Gina. John was thrilled to be a great grandfather. River Matthew Oates made his entrance into his earthly home just in time to send his papa to his heavenly home. 

John was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Doug, sister Judy, brother-in-law Richard and sister-in-law Deanna. Those left to cherish his memory are; wife: Gina Rogers Jones; daughter: Megan Wenzel (Kurt); grandchildren: Hunter Oates (Haylee), Channing Wenzel and Raine Jenrette; brother: Ed Jones Jr. (Brenda); sister: Debbie Miller (John); sister-in-law: Debbie Jones; sister-in-law: Beth Sessoms; sister-in-law: Deena Holmes; nieces and nephews: Scarlett Grose (Matthew), Brian Jones (Crystal), Tommy Jones (April), Heather Miller (Randal), Abby Jones, Travis Jones, Remly Clark and Dylan Clark; great nieces and nephews: Carter, Sydney, Gavin, Alexis, Austin, Travis and Zach, as well as many lifelong friends. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the American Diabetes Foundation. A viewing and service will be on Tuesday, August 15 at Brunswick Funeral Service, located at 5229 Ocean Highway W, Shallotte, NC. The viewing will be between 10:00-11:00 am. Funeral service to follow at 11:00 am.