CHARLES JONES OBITUARY

Charles Sherfy Jones passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 2, 2022, in Arlington, Virginia. Sherfy was born May 6, 1931, to Charles and Gladys Jones in Flushing, New York.

When Sherfy was six months old, his family relocated to Philadelphia for one year then onto the District of Columbia. Sherfy’s father and mother met at a picnic where his father was enjoying a game of baseball. His father was known to have had a great arm and passed this talent and passion for baseball on to Sherfy. Sherfy lost his mother to cancer when he was 14.

Sherfy graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1949. At Wilson, he was a gifted student and a star athlete in both basketball and baseball. As a starter on Wilson’s 1948 basketball team, he led them to the City Championship game where they narrowly lost to McKinley Tech. Sherfy was named to the All-High team (Equivalent to All-Met today).

After one year at Vanderbilt, Sherfy transferred to the engineering school at Duke University. At Duke, he joined Phi Delta Theta, a fraternity he financially supported for many years thereafter. Sherfy graduated from Duke in 1953 with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering. While at Duke, he enrolled in the US Air Force ROTC Program. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

It was just after his graduation from Duke that a friend’s uncle, a representative with Jefferson Standard life, shared how strongly he believed in life insurance as a career. Soon thereafter Sherfy became a representative in the Washington Regional Agency.

Only a few months after signing his full-time agent’s contract, Sherfy was called to fulfill his ROTC duty in the U.S. Airforce, where he served for two years.

While stationed at Dover Air Force Base he and his commanding officer formed the base’s first tennis team. Tennis remained a big part of Sherfy’s life thereafter.

Sherfy went on to complete a law degree from George Washington University but found the insurance business to be his passion. In 1959 he was appointed Division Manager with Jefferson Standard in their Arlington, Virginia office, a position that he held for ten years. He ultimately gave up his role in management as he found working directly with clients to be particularly rewarding. Sherfy continued to serve his clients until his passing–a career of almost 70 years. Sherfy had the pleasure of working alongside his son, Kevin, since 1986 when he entered the financial services industry.

Sherfy was committed to professional education and community service. He earned his CLU and ChFC designations from the American College of Financial Services. He served as President of the DC chapter of The Society of Financial Service professionals during which he made the effort to meet personally with each of the more than three hundred chapter members.

In 1987 Sherfy was selected as the recipient of the Bernard L. Wilner award, now the Legacy Award, for outstanding service to his industry and to his community.

Sherfy’s circle of friends was extensive, stemming from his involvement in many community- based organizations such as Cherrydale United Methodist Church, Washington Golf and Country Club and Kiwanis.

Sherfy’s sister, Jerilyn Jones Bowman, was best of friends with Elizabeth Amanda Torreson, “Betsy.” Sherfy took Betsy to Ocean City for the weekend to visit his sister who was working there for the summer. Sherfy and Betsy were engaged by the end of the summer and married on December 27, 1958.

Sherfy and Betsy bought a cottage in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in 1964, and Rehoboth became their home away from home where they welcomed many friends over the years. His family was most important to him. He cherished family time in Rehoboth and watching grandkid activities, whether ball games, theater or dance. Every holiday was the “best ever.”

Sherfy was predeceased by his wife, Betsy, and his sister Jerilyn Bowman. Sherfy is survived by his three children, Sharon Bomgardner, Kevin Jones and Jenny Holsinger; their spouses Dave Bomgardner, Beth Jones and Glen Holsinger; eight grandchildren, Eric Bomgardner, Lauren Bomgardner, Lindsay Bomgardner, Alexandra Jones, Nathan Jones, Josh Jones, Becca Holsinger and Maddie Holsinger; two nieces, Debbie Newton and Donna Dudenhoefer, and his dear friend Marian Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022 at Cherrydale United Methodist Church, 3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207. A reception will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Washington Golf & Country Club, 3017 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22207, Arlington, Virginia 22207.

For remote attendance of the service please visit: https://vimeo.com/707141951

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105. 1-800-822-6344.

A private graveside service was held at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia.