Flags will fly at half-staff in Orange County this week to honor the lives of two former county supervisors.
Grover C. Wilson, Jr., 82, and Vernon Rea Jones, 94, passed away last month. Both served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Wilson was first elected in 1991 and served 18 years on the board in the Taylor District, which later became District 4. He was chairman in 2004 and also served as a representative to numerous boards including the economic development authority, the Rapidan Service Authority and more. He was honored for his service upon his retirement in 2014 and his tenure is one of the longest as a supervisor in Orange County.
Similar to Wilson, Jones also served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as the Rapidan Service Authority and the economic development authority. He was also a member of the Orange County Planning Commission, served as chairman in each body for numerous years and had nearly three decades of service collectively.
Wilson, born January 11, 1943 in Baltimore, MD, was a longtime Orange County resident. His family had moved to the county in 1946 and he attended public school. Upon graduation he served in the United States Air Force before returning home and marrying Linda Sullivan. The pair raised two children and celebrated 56 years together last fall. In addition to serving on the board of supervisors, Wilson was a member of the East Orange Ruritan Club. He had business ventures in farming, logging, electrical work and automotive repair. He passed away Jan. 26.
According to his obituary, he will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to this family, service to the community and tireless work ethic.
He is survived by his wife, two children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as a sister and several nieces and nephews.
Jones also grew up in Orange County, having been born September 20, 1930 in Charlottesville. He graduated from Virginia Tech, was a dairy farmer and served in the U.S. Army. He spent 35 years in the National Guard and the Virginia Department of Military Affairs before retiring as a brigadier general. Jones also served on the Orange Madison Co-op Board, the First Virginia Bank Board and was a trustee and deacon at North Pamunkey Baptist Church. He passed away Jan. 17.
According to his obituary, Jones was a “mentor to many, baseball coach, advocate, sports fan, husband and [a] dearly loved dad, grandad and great grandaddy. In every role, he lived it in service to others.”
Jones is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann, three daughters, two stepdaughters, 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
“Orange County mourns the loss of both former supervisors,” R. Mark Johnson, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, said. “I had the honor of serving with both gentlemen, and their legacy of public service should inspire current and future generations.”
To honor the men, Orange County will lower the county flag to half-staff Monday, Feb. 3 for Jones and Tuesday, Feb. 4 for Wilson.
