David E. Jones of Wyomissing, PA, died peacefully on January 8, 2023, at the age of 89 and one half. Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, during the depression, David aspired to go to college; he applied and was accepted at Ohio Wesleyan University. After promising to send laundry home each week to his mother, he arrived on campus, suitcase in hand, and joined the football team. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, his dreams of becoming a radio host ended with the reality that he needed a job to survive. He applied and was hired as an industrial engineer with Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, PA. Not satisfied with being one of a thousand engineers at “Bethlem” (as they called it) David took a similar job at Vulcan Mold and Iron in Latrobe, Pa. There, he quickly moved up the ranks into management. With his new position he joined the Latrobe Country Club, beginning a lifelong love for golf. By 1973, Vulcan was so impressed with David’s managing skills they promoted him to run the entire operation at their sister location in Trenton, Michigan, a 300-person 24/7 aluminum purification casting plant, pouring liquid metal into giant ingots loaded directly onto rail cars to be delivered into the heart of Detroit’s auto industry. He ran for and was elected President of the National Foundrymen’s Association. During this time, David began directing and starring in plays for the Islanders, a local theater group. In his spare time, he won the 1979 Grosse Ile Golf Invitational with the help of his long-time golf partner Chris Adams. The following year they won the Bay Hill Country Club Florida Invitational besting Arnold Palmer and winning the $30,000 purse.

The good life came crashing to an end when Vulcan chose not to follow David’s advice to invest in the future: continuous casting. A resistance to change that led to the company’s liquidation in Michigan, a misfortune that “cast” David into unemployment at age 50. Not knowing what the future would hold, David used his connections with the Foundryman’s association and landed a job at Pennsylvania Steel Foundry in Hamburg, PA. In 1984 he joined Moselem Springs Golf Club and became the youngest member of the Old Goats. It was 1985 during a game of gin rummy with his new friends, including Moselem founding member Bill “White Shoes” Johnson, Ken Harms, and Sam Mccullough, that they cooked up a plan for David to buy Ken’s company, Fusion Coatings, located in Robesonia, PA. Unhappy with the direction of the steel industry, and with much cajoling from his friends, he took the chance and with a hand shake the deal was done.

David quickly learned the business of industrial coatings, asked his two sons to join the team, and tripled sales in 10 years. In 1990 David joined the Berks County Arts council and was one of several members who conceptualized, organized, and pulled off the inaugural “Berks County Jazz Fest”
A lifelong Steeler fan, David held season tickets for more than 40 years attending as many games as possible from all the locations he lived. While in Michigan he held season tickets to the Detroit Lions, which began a tradition of attending the Thanksgiving Day game with family then heading home for the Thanksgiving feast. Along the way, David managed to get married and have four children. He took us all along for the ride; an American dream lived to the fullest.

David leaves behind three children: Douglas (Gaila Swindell) Jones, Patrick (Deborah) Jones, and Jennifer Jones; six grandchildren: Sydney, Avalon, Alaina, Hannah, Conor, and Coleman; one great-grandchild, Isabella, and his former wife, Carol (Bradley) Jones.

Also missing David at this time are two stepchildren: Jim Heckman and Randy (Michelle Intelisano) Heckman, along with four step grandchildren: Stephanie, Matthew, Brody and Alex.

David was predeceased by his wife: Sheila Kindle-Jones (2018), and son, Dave Jones (2012).


The Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, is honored to serve the Jones family with final arrangements, and services will be private. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.