Bruce Smith Jones

Bruce Smith Jones was born to Perry and Elizabeth Gillette on March 5, 1947 in Sauquoit, NY. Sauquoit's gorgeous natural environment in upstate New York was a young boy's dream with endless woodlands, fishing creeks, and swimming holes. And young Bruce was even more fortunate to grow up in the crown jewel of the area, as his father was the owner and operator of the famed, historical Orchard Hall Hotel. The hotel was the area's premier designation for fine food and festivities and was also the home to wild pets that took up residence in the bar and restaurant.

As a 17-year-old, Bruce left the paradise of upstate New York and joined the Army, finding himself stationed at Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey.That is when the magic happened one night when he met another 17-year-old girl from Bristol. Lorraine Lautz would prove to become the love of his life in a 53-year marriage beginning in 1965 and culminating with Lorraine's passing in 2018.

The family story started during Bruce's Army station in Reichenberg, Germany, where Lorraine and their first-born, Renee, lived for two years.

Out of the army, Bruce returned and took his first job as a mechanic with the James D. Morrissey Company in Philadelphia. His next job gave birth literally to the beginning of a Legend. Starting as a journeyman in the Operating Engineers I.V.O.E. #542, Bruce moved on to become a Business Agent and from there he opened doors and changed lives for too many people to count. He changed the union unlike any other in the areas of workers' rights, creating and keeping jobs, and organizing the union with area businesses and key political figures to perform massive volunteer projects in Pennsylvania, including Mother Catherine Drexel's Shrine and the largest volunteer project in Bucks County, The Lagoon Project of the Delaware Canal. At the end of his days, his iPhone contacts included members of major American equipment companies, the AFL-CIO, members of the U.S. Congress & Senate, and, yes, even an American President, many of whom would answer for him on the first ring.

Bruce Jones' impact in the Bucks County and Philadelphia regions will be endless due to the jobs he created, careers he began for others, and the community projects that he engineered.

The young nature boy from upstate New York ended up as one of Bucks County's favorite sons.

Bruce is survived by his daughter, Renee Tiffany (Tim), and his son, Bruce Jones, Jr. (Maureen); three grandchildren, Shane (Summer), Ryan (Vickie), Heather (Mark); five great-grandchildren: Nash, Ridge, Billie, Scarlett, and Henry. And, of course, his Beloved Bichon Frise: Sonny.

A Graveside Service will be held at The Bristol Memorial Cemetery on Thursday, August 14 at 11:00am.

Anyone considering donations in Bruce's name should direct such generosity to the Wounded Warriors Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.