LEWISTON – Charles H. Jones III, 79, husband of Jessie D. “Jill” Jones of Auburn, died Dec. 15, in the Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, following his brief illness.

Born in Boston, Mass., June 2, 1929, he was the son of the late Charles H. and Margaret (French) Jones. He was raised in Cohasset, Mass., and was a 1948 graduate of Milton Academy. He continued his education at Dartmouth, graduating in 1952, after a five-year program that included an M.B.A. from the Tuck School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Berlin during the early years of the Cold War. He served as the editor of the military newspaper “The Berlin Observer.” Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Cohasset and worked for Bostonian Shoe, the company his grandfather had founded. Moving to Monmouth in the early 1970s, he continued his involvement with Bostonian, supervising the Maine factories. In his retirement, he enjoyed his next 10 years of employment crafting furniture at Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers of Auburn. He will be remembered as the creator of the Cherry Chuggers, miniature wooden cars sold at Moser showrooms. As a young man, he was an avid blue water sailor, a longtime member of the Cohasset Yacht Club and the Blue Water Sailing Club. Following his relocation to Maine, he enjoyed skiing, both downhill and cross country. His passion for being on the water evolved into the sport of sea kayaking. He enjoyed paddling amongst the islands of mid-coastal Maine, with many trips to Matinicus and Monhegan, which became yearly traditions with friends and family. He was an enthusiastic and competitive kayak racer, competing as recently as this July’s Moxie Festival Androscoggin River Race.

In addition to his wife of 34 years, he is survived by his son, Daniel C. Jones and his wife, Karen, of Hanover, Mass.; daughters, Deborah Jones Cerretani and her husband, Craig, of Ipswich, Mass., and Leslie Gutiérrez-Jones and her husband, Carl, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; six granddaughters, Samantha and Caroline Jones of Hanover, Mass., Kendra and Marissa Cerretani of Ipswich, Mass., and Marina and Natalia Gutie’rrez-Jones of Santa Barbara, Calif.. He is also survived by his former wife, Joan Jones of Plymouth, Mass. He was the brother of the late Leslie Jones Jackson, formerly of West Falmouth, Mass. A memorial paddle will be held this summer on the waters of Penobscot Bay.