Topic starter
26/07/2010 1:52 am
Dear River Friends,
It saddens me to tell you of a passing of another dear river friend. Captain Oscar Nelson Jones passed today and has joined the river above.
Captain Jones was one of the greatest supporters of our river history to this day. His family supported his love of the river through his family business, Madison Coal and Supply Company.
Captain Jones was a personal friend, someone I am so glad to have had the opportunity to have known.
My heart goes out to his wife, Captain Robyn Jones, his family and his Madison Coal and Supply Company family.
Sternwheel towboats on the river owe alot to Captain Jones, for he was one of their greatest supporters in our modern times. He kept sternwheel boats out there moving barges in a time that had forgotten them. All because of his love of the river and the industry.
The world was a better place with Captain Nelson Jones....the river will be a better place for his participation. I consider myself a better person for his taking the time to share his love of the river with me.
Rest in Peace Captain...the river and her people will miss you dearly!
26/07/2010 3:20 am
You couldn't have said it any better, Travis. My sentiments exactly. My deepest sympathy to Robyn and Nelson's family.
26/07/2010 6:25 am
My feelings also.. Words can not say what I would like to...
SO I won't even try ...
However,
My thoughts and Prayers are with Robyn and Family.. And all the Crew at Madison Coal & Supply / Port Amherst..
A sad day Indeed ..A Long And Two Shorts, to Nelson .. - . .
26/07/2010 9:57 am
I have a trip planned to Charleston Tuesday, this is so sad, Nelson and i worked on the Denny together.
26/07/2010 12:26 pm
I had spoken with one of Nelson's lifelong friends on Saturday at the Augusta Regatta regarding his condition and being hospitalized. But this is a shock this morning.
The river and all of us have lost a good friend and mentor in Capt. Nelson Jones.
A long and two shorts in your memory this morning.
Aaron
26/07/2010 12:42 pm
This is indeed sad news for all of us. Nelson was a staunch supporter of all we do. First Mate Carol joins me in saluting his life and sympathy to his wife and boating family. Cap'n Walnut.
26/07/2010 1:23 pm
Not only did we all loose a friend in Nelson, the river industry lost one of its brightest stars. It won't be the same without him for he was truly in love with the river, the boats, and the people. I first met Nelson years ago when he and I raced our paddlewheel driven Weaver Yawls at the Sternwheel Regatta, he was very kind to me as he was with all people. He was truly the living definiton of "a good soul".
Nelson, you will be missed and the rivers will not be same without you.
26/07/2010 9:54 pm
Travis, indeed you speak for us all at the loss of our good Captain Nelson. I, too, have had the honor of knowing Nelson as a friend for many, many years, and concur that our river lives were incredibly enhanced and enriched by Nelson's love for and devotion to the rivers.
It was my honor two years ago, on behalf of you, Travis because your work schedule kept you from attending, to provide calliope music for Nelson and Robyn's wedding aboard the J.S. Lewis. I'm convinced it was the happiest moment of Nelson's life when he and the lovely Robyn were united in marriage. The grin on Nelson's face was as wide as the Great Kanawha, and that is how I will always remember this fine friend and gentleman.
Sleep gently, good Captain.
Topic starter
26/07/2010 11:00 pm
Visitation for Capt. Nelson Jones will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Charleston Rotunda, Charleston, WV. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Oak Hill Baptist Church. A private family burial will follow.
27/07/2010 2:57 pm
Capt. Doc Hawley phoned me Sunday evening with the very sad news about Nelson. In barely a month's time, West Virginia has now lost two of its most illustrious and devoted citizens in the passings of Capt. Charles Henry Stone and now Capt. Nelson Jones. The river and its boats were the breath of life to both of these wonderful and kind men -- and to say they will be missed is an understatement. What a privilege it was to be counted amongst their multitude of friends up and down the rivers.
Herewith are several images of Nelson showing him doing what he loved best in this life, being on a boat and talking river with river people. A long and loud whistle salute to the memory of this extraordinary riverman. My deepest sympathy to his family. Indeed, we have lost a gem in Nelson's untimely passing.
1.) Capt. Nelson Jones surveying whistles to be blown at S&D Whistle Blow - 1993 - Sternwheeler LAURA J. and barge alongside W.P. SNYDER, JR.
2.) Nelson on deck - S&D 1999
(3. Nelson and Woody Rutter converse aboard sternwheeler CITY OF SISTERSVILLE - MOR meeting, Point Pleasant - July 2000
28/07/2010 6:12 am
A Whistle salute like no other
There is a planed blowing of whistles of all the Madison Coal & Supply Boats at noon today ..
WeLL , it got carried a step farther...
We now have participating in the Whistle blow at NOON Eastern time Wed. July 28th, In Memory of Capt. Nelson Jones..
the DELTA QUEEN, BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, NATCHEZ,(Debbie is also playing a few Hymms on the NATCHEZ's CaLLiope), all the Lake George boats. Strs. MINNE HA HA ,and CHAUTAUQUA BELLE, and Steam CaLLiope 44, and a countless number of towboats are also participating, at NOON Eastern time July 28th 2010. PLEASE tell everyone to blow their whistles at noon today ..
Thanks so much to everyone.
We want Nelson to hear this !!
28/07/2010 11:43 am
Dave, I'm very glad you mentioned it is Eastern time, 'cause I'da been late!
28/07/2010 4:58 pm
Dave: You even reached Rabbit Hash Shipyard Annex here on Gunpowder Road. MISS FORTUNE here in drydock added her little voice to the din! Albeit on air due to the short notice. Thanks for the heads up! Cap'n Walnut
29/07/2010 3:01 am
From Down on the Tennessee ...
When my TracPhone noted I had missed a call from the GRAND VICTORIA II, I phoned Captain Dave Franklin who said Captain Hawley had called to report that Nelson Jones had died. Of anything that I could have expected, the last thing I imagined was that shocking news. I knew Nelson was sick, but I had hoped and prayed that he was winning the fight with his illness.
Nelson Jones 'decked' for me in 1976, the first year the P. A. DENNY came out. He was one of an all-star crew of exceptional young men, that summer, before college studies called them back to the classroom in the Fall. Captain Tom Cook, Steamboat Bill Barr, and my youngest brother, Jeff, now an environmental attorney, were also on the deck with Nelson.
We worked hard, and after the boat was landed and cleaned up for the next day, we played hard. That summer began a friendship that lasted until just this week when he died all-too-soon, and over the past 34 years it was refreshingly a joy to see Nelson somewhere on the river. He was always kind, considerate, and generous with his personal time and hospitality, though he had grown into an important and busy businessman following in the footfalls of his father and his grandfather, Mr. Herbert E. Jones.
My deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Captain Robyn, his father, Captain Charles Jones; family, friends, and the crews he commanded and served with -- past and present.
29/07/2010 10:35 am
I attended the visitation last night at UC. Big turnout as would be expected. Spoke to Charlie Jones and let him know of all the "post" on here. J. S. Lewis was outback as a anchor barge for sternwheelers to dock. This was a very sad week on the river.
29/07/2010 7:53 pm
salute from the SoP
The SPIRIT OF PEORIA added her whistle to the salute as we were navigating the very swollen Illinois River. Someone from our group of 15 Rambling River Rats asked Capt. Alex Grieges if we could join the far flung salute and he gladly obliged.
While many posters may not have know Capt, Nelson, they probably have been beneficiary of his generosity - he supplied the steam barge for the whistle blows at S&D meetings, at the Steamboat Conference in Louisville, and at Tall Stacks. He supplied the landing barges for Tall Stacks also. He and Capt. Bill Judd served as the marine navigation coordinators, or whatever the term was, for most of the Tall Stacks. So Capt. Nelson touched many of us, whether we realized it or not.
01/08/2010 2:42 pm
Capt. Doc Hawley said last evening that he had talked with his cousin and several others who attended the visitation and that the rotunda was packed. Nelson's kindness and generosity touched countless lives and his passing is going to be keenly felt in many places for a very long time to come.
Here are several more images of Nelson involved in what made him happiest -- doing "river things"!
(1) Nelson at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta - 1986.
(2) Nelson adjusting a whistle at the S&D meeting - 1999.
(3) Nelson and river friends (Capt. Charles Henry Stone wearing hat at left) on sternwheeler CITY OF SISTERSVILLE - 2000.
