Rodney Harwood Jones, 58, of Monument, Colorado, passed away in Payson, Utah on May 12, 2024, after a 12-year courageous battle with ALK+ lung cancer.

Rod was born on June 22, 1965, in Seattle, Washington to Nelson Lunt and Lucy Jo Harwood Jones. He is the oldest of five children. He graduated from Juab High School in Nephi, Utah in 1983, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and golf. He was a member of the first Juab High School golf team with his dad as the coach. He attended Boys State, was a Sterling Scholar, and was the Salutatorian of his graduating class. He had a few dates in high school, but only because his sister, Sheralyn, set him up. He attended Brigham Young University for one year before serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Italy Milan Mission.

After his mission, Rod returned to Brigham Young University and completed his studies in Pre-Medical/Dental Zoology, graduating in 1989. He married Jamie Kaye Lamb on July 31, 1987, in the Jordan River Temple. In the fall of 1989, he began dental school at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Rod joined the United States Army in 1992 and served honorably for 30 years. His duty stations included posts in Georgia, Louisiana, Alaska, Kentucky, Germany, Colorado (where he was the Dental Activity Commander) and Hawaii (where he was the Commander of the Pacific Region Dental Command). During those years he also received his M.S. from the University of Louisville in Orthodontics/Oral Biology and his M.B.A./M.H.A. from Baylor University.

Rod received numerous military awards, some of which were The Legion of Merit, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, and The Dental Corps Chief’s Exceptional Service and Leadership Award.

Rod loved traveling, watching, and playing sports, reading, going out for ice cream, attending his children’s activities, cooking, yardwork, camping in Steamboat Springs, and spending time with immediate and extended family. He was known for his lame dad jokes, which he thought were hilarious.

He is survived by his wife, Jamie Kaye Lamb Jones of Monument, Colorado, his children Lindsey Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Taylor Beverly (Michael) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Chandler Jones (Allison) of Duncan, South Carolina, Carson Jones of Monument, Colorado, Cameron Jones of Monument, Colorado, four granddaughters, his mother, Lucy Jo Harwood Jones, and his siblings Sheralyn Brown (Leslie), Curtis Jones (Angi), Elaine Moon (Conley), and Preston Jones (Jenya). He was preceded in death by his father, Nelson Lunt Jones.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 950 CO Highway 105, Monument, CO. Rod’s ashes will then be interred at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, CO. A luncheon will follow at the Jones Home, 19992 Royal Troon Drive, Monument, CO.