Robert O. Jones 1943 - 2016MYRTLE BEACH, SC/CEDAR LAKE - Robert O. Jones, 73, of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Cedar Lake, NY, and formerly of Rome, passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2016, with his loving family at his side. He was born on April 16, 1943, in Utica, the son of Robert and Dorothy Yahnke Jones. He was a 1961 graduate of New Hartford High School and a 1965 graduate of SUNY Brockport, with a BS in Education. On July 2, 1988, he married Dawn McCabe. Bob was a teacher for 33 years in the Rome City School District. He started at Gansevoort Elementary School and then went to Louis V. Denti Elementary School, where he taught 6th Grade until his retirement. In 2004, the Rome Tutorial Center was founded, and Bob became the Co-Coordinator of the program, until retiring for good in October of 2014. He was always involved in sports throughout his life. Bob was an assistant football coach at Rome Catholic High School, coached JV Girls Basketball, at Rome Free Academy, for several years, was an assistant coach for the Hamilton College Women's Basketball team, and was an assistant coach for the Holland Patent Girls Varsity Basketball team. He had a passion for women's basketball, attended several NCAA Women's Final Fours, and even refereed high school games before he got into coaching. Bob also refereed soccer and umpired softball for over 20 years.Bob was a member of the Rome Knights of Columbus, Rome Elks Club, held several different offices with the Jaycees, and was a Past President of the Rome Teachers Association. In his younger days, he played the baritone horn in the Magnificent Yankees Drum Corps. He loved to play golf. He was a long time member and former board member at Teugega Country Club.When Bob retired, he and his wife spent their winters in Myrtle Beach and summers at the Cedar Lake Club in Clayville.To know Bob was to love Bob. He had a personality big enough to fill any room and a contagious laugh to go along with it. He was fun and he was genuine. He will be missed.Surviving besides his loving wife, Dawn, are three stepchildren, Lori Keys, of Roanoke, VA, Jon Keys, of Seattle, WA, and Matthew Keys, of Cape Cod, MA; a brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Laurie Jones, of New Hartford, and their three sons, Richard Russell, Ronald Jones, Jr. and Ryan Jones; two granddaughters, Ava Gibson-Keys and Cailin Keys; and many, many friends in Rome, Myrtle Beach and Cedar Lake.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, at 11:00 AM, at St. Peter's Church with the Rev. Philip Hearn officiating. Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, from 4-7:00 PM, at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome. In lieu of flowers, contributions, in Bob's memory, may be made to the Michelle M. Adey Memorial Fund, 8572 Teugega Point Rd., Rome NY 13440 or Hospice and Palliative Care, 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford NY 13413, www.hospicecareinc.org. You may light a candle or send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.