Gordon Danny Jonas passed away on Saturday night, Oct. 27, 2018 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was born April 11, 1951 in Wytheville, VA.
Danny Jonas spent his childhood in Covington, VA, the son of Gordon Tate Jonas and Peggy Whittaker Jonas of Radford. He is survived by his wife Deborrah Jones Jonas of 48 years. He is survived by his two sons, Shannon Jonas and his wife India of Buffalo, NY, and Justin Jonas and his wife Jennifer of Graham’s Forge. Danny Jonas was the brother of Nancy Mabry and Sally Gotkiewicz.
Danny Jonas graduated from Radford High School in 1969 where he excelled as a basketball player, earned his BA from David Lipscomb College in 1973, and earned his master’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech in 1975. He began teaching and coaching at Fort Chiswell High School in 1975 and retired in 2006. He was the varsity coach for men’s and women’s basketball for over 30 years, as well as athletic director, amassing a total of over 550 wins, including multiple district and regional championship teams, producing multiple 1,000 point scorers, and all-state players, and he helped place many students into higher education.
“Coach J” loved his family, his students, and his players. Like his father, he was a professor at New River Community College and Wytheville Community College. Danny retired in 2006 and lived with his wife Deborrah in Fort Chiswell until his untimely departure. He will be remembered by his family and everyone he touched and influenced during his decades of service and love.
Funeral services were held at the Fort Chiswell High School gym, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018. The family received friends until service time. Reese Funeral Home, Austinville, VA is serving the Jonas family.
