JONES, Spc. Robert William 21, of Vail, Arizona died on Saturday, January 6, 2018 while serving with the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) Multinational Battle Group-East at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.

Robert was a military working dog handler, assigned to the 131st Military Working Dog Detachment, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade based at Grafenwöhr, Germany, before he was deployed to Kosovo in April 2017. A 2015 graduate of Cienega High School in Vail, Robert enlisted in the Army in August 2015. After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Robert came home to marry his true love, Charlee De La Ossa, on the day after Christmas 2015.

Robert and Charlee were devoted to each other since their sophomore year in high school, and were together in Germany for one year before Robert was deployed to Kosovo. Robert loved being married, and loved the time that he and Charlee enjoyed while starting their life together overseas. Since middle school, Robert was determined and passionate about serving his country in the armed forces, and he spent two years in the Navy Junior ROTC program at Cienega.  Robert always loved animals, and he was excited about his assignment and the opportunity to serve as a dog handler. He loved training and working with his military working dog, Sgt. Maco.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (Kosovo), and German Marksmanship Badge (Schützenschnur). Robert was a remarkable young man, and a devoted and selfless member of a very large family. He was a great husband, a wonderful and loving son, little brother to his sister Riché, and big brother to Oscar, Royal, Roxy, and Landen. He was like a brother to his many cousins. He was a good friend. He was also a beautiful little boy and a charming young man, still remembered very fondly by teachers from his preschool days through high school.

Robert is survived by his wife, Charlee De La Ossa Jones; by his mother, Jodie Westergaard (Jeromie); and father, Robert Jones (Veronica); by his siblings, Riché, Oscar, Royal, Roxy, and Landen; by his grandparents, aunts and uncles; and by his many cousins, great-aunts, great-uncles, and too many others to name in the Stirling, De la Ossa, Prutsman, Terrell, Murch, Romo de Vivar, Maduro, Rohlinger, Wilkins, Johnson, Kottabi, and Dueñas families, among many others who loved and thought of Robert as their own.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Robert's name to Fisher House Foundation ( www.fisherhouse.org ), which provides support to military families