Raymonde Jones

Raymonde Veber Jones was born 1 December 1917 in Paris, France and passed away on 28 June 2016 at 98 years of age.  She is fondly remembered by her 3 children, Raymond Jones, Philippe Jones and Maryse Waddell; 7 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren.  Raymonde grew up in Paris and directly experienced the German Nazi occupation of Paris and of France.  Raymonde lived and breathed tennis, first as a young girl and then through her whole life.  While Paris was still occupied, Raymonde won the French National Tennis Tournament in singles and doubles.  During the war years, she helped her French Jewish tennis colleagues escaped from Paris by personally driving them to southern France away from Nazi control, passing through several German control points.  While playing a tennis tournament on the French Rivera, she met her future husband, Raymond “Guy” Jones.  He was on R&R just after “V Day”.  He approached this young, attractive French lady wearing tennis clothes and not knowing who she was, asked her to play tennis.  He was soundly beaten 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 and they were in love ever after.  While raising a family of three children and constantly moving as a spouse of a military officer, Raymonde still managed to have a robust tennis career rising to number 13 in US national women’s tennis championship rankings and won the Middle Atlantic championship from 1961-71 without losing a set.  She was inducted into the Middle Atlantic Tennis Association Hall of Fame.  Raymonde displayed fortitude and strength throughout her life. First when she moved from Paris to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1946 speaking only limited, heavily accented French; saying she went through culture shock would be an understatement.  She was a great athlete well before woman’s tennis became to be widely appreciated and respected.  Her athleticism and her iron will drove her to championship levels in skiing, golf and horseback riding as well.  Raymonde will be fondly remembered by her family and friends.  Raymonde’s funeral services will be on 10 November at 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Meyers Chapel to be followed by graveside services for family members.  A reception will follow at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.