Linda Howard Jones, née Harris, passed away on August 27, 2026, at the age of 82. She was born on March 7, 1944, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and was adopted, along with her sister Sally, by Dr. Robert and Dorothy Harris of New York.
Linda attended St. Anne’s Boarding School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and later graduated from the University of Denver, where she met her first husband, Harold Howard, and had her only son, Wayne Howard. She went on to have an award-winning career in Civil Service with the United States Air Force, working in contracting.
After her divorce from Harold, Linda met Charlie Jones at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia while they were both working with the Air Force. Their meeting began a relationship that would become one of the most important parts of Linda’s life. Charlie was, in her son’s words, the love of her life.
Linda was the loving mother of Wayne Howard and a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Dennis Jones, parents, Dr. Robert and Dorothy Harris; her sister, Sally Ritter (Harris); and her grandson, Gregory Peterson.
She is survived by her son, Wayne Howard; grandchildren Kyle Bishop, Ryan Bishop, and Paul Howard; and great-grandchildren Becca Bishop, Lily Bishop, Ryleigh Bishop, George Little, Goldie Little, and Monroe Bishop.
Family was at the heart of Linda’s life. Some of Wayne’s fondest memories of growing up with his mother were the camping and fishing trips they took together with his father, Harold Howard, to Potter’s Pond and Bailey Lake near Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington. He also remembers driving across the country with his mother to Salt Lake City, Utah—memories that remained special throughout his life.
Linda and Charlie shared a love of travel and the outdoors, and together they traveled around the world on birding trips. Birding was one of Linda’s greatest passions. She was a member of the Carolina and Woodlake Birders and found tremendous joy in discovering and observing birds wherever their travels took them.
Linda was also known for her incredible sense of humor, and one story in particular perfectly captures the mischievous side of her personality.
In the late 1980s, Linda developed a strong interest in law enforcement. She listened to a police scanner, went on ride-alongs with deputies, and even spent time sitting with dispatchers. One evening, while Linda was sitting with a dispatcher, Wayne found a deputy and told him where his mother was. He asked the deputy to run his license plate as a suspicious vehicle. When the dispatcher reported Wayne’s information, he heard his mother exclaim from the background, “That’s my son!”
The deputy and Wayne were practically rolling on the ground laughing. Linda’s initial reaction was one of playful anger, but before long she and Wayne were laughing about the prank together. It became a family memory they enjoyed for years—a story Linda never forgot, and one Wayne never will either.
Linda had a warm, loving, and caring nature. She loved her grandsons and her great-grandchildren very much, and they brought great joy to her life. Her family will remember not only the love she gave them, but also her laughter, curiosity, adventurous spirit, and ability to find joy in the world around her.
Linda also cared deeply about her community. Alongside Charlie, she worked to improve the Woodlake community and Country Club, giving her time and energy to help make the place they called home better for others.
Linda Jones lived a life filled with family, love, service, adventure, travel, nature, and laughter. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will carry her love and her stories with them for generations to come.
A service celebrating Linda’s life will be held at Cox Funeral Home in Vass, North Carolina, on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. She will be interred at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery with her beloved Charlie.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the local Audubon Society in Linda’s memory. Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory of Vass.
