Established by family and friends of Robyn Jones, this fund will provide scholarships to deserving students in our region.
Robyn Jones…a life well lived
On July, 15, 2017, many people of the greater Wilkes-Barre area, including Harveys Lake, the Poconos and points beyond, said a difficult goodbye to a one-of-a-kind, home-grown, bona fide NEPA jewel.
Robyn Ann Jones, 60, a lifelong sportswoman, lost a tedious, well-fought battle to cancer. She took advantage of each and every opportunity to connect with people. During her years at Meyers High School, class of 1974, she blossomed as a participant in girls’ basketball, field hockey, student council and later senior class officer.
Her portrait hangs on the Meyers Mohawk wall of fame as a recognized athlete, coach, official and sports fan. She learned to play guitar and, shortly afterward in 1972, formed a garage band, which she comically named The Grand Stunk Railroad. Guitar playing and writing humorous lyrics to popular songs would become a staple in Robyn’s repertoire of entertainment that she carried into her college days at East Stroudsburg University where she earned her teaching degree. A true lover of rock music, Robyn prided herself at how many Rolling Stones concerts she attended.
Jones’ first job was at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA where she became the first women’s athletic director. It is safe to say she introduced the ladies of Wilkes-Barre to a new style of exercising called aerobics. In 1979, she parlayed her P.E. degree along with her participation in college field hockey to land the Girls’ Field Hockey coaching job at Coughlin High School.
Shortly thereafter, Dallas School District brought her on as a junior high health teacher. She frequently recalled the challenges of teaching 13-year-olds about drug and alcohol abuse, as well as the whole life cycle. She would remain at Dallas High School for the rest of her career and would attend Wilkes University to attain a master’s degree in counseling. In 2013, Robyn retired as a guidance counselor at Dallas High School. She held that office for many years but always gave credit for her great success as an advisor to young people.
Robyn’s athleticism prevailed throughout her entire life. She could be seen in the summer skiing on her beloved Harveys Lake and in the winter skiing on Camelback Mountain, where she became a ranger for many years, earning Ranger of the Year in 2015. She had a deep respect for nature and enjoyed hiking, biking, kayaking and just “being there.”
Robyn had a lot of love to give and she gave it away with her infectious smile, respectful demeanor and quick wit. She loved her spouse, Theresa, her extended family, her close-knit group of high school friends, which she called her Card Club, and her dogs, Rosie and Slinky. Robyn Jones had a zest for life and left a legacy of love to all the thousands of lives she touched.
