David Paul Jones

David Paul Jones, who was a private first class in the United States Army, passed away unexpectedly on August 19, 2026. David was very excited to have been pursuing his lifelong dream in the Armed Forces. On June 25, 2026, he graduated from his 28-week training program to become a Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. David had hoped to quickly move on to his first duty station. Unfortunately, that wasn’t realized for various reasons. We are saddened by his passing yet, inspired by his willingness to defend his honor and name to his very last breath. David peacefully passed into the arms of his late father, Scott Skillman Jones and a loving Savior. They know THE TRUTH!

David was born December 8, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to loving and wonderful parents. David and his brothers, Richard and Seth, were known as the neighborhood “Jones Clan.” Together they played with army men, built forts, explored vacant lots on their bikes, hiked in the beautiful mountain ranges, watched movies, read books and, of course, played video games. Because there were very few children in our neighborhood at the time, the “Jones Boys” were the neighborhood lawn mowing crew and the Boy Scout Troop. David loved his brothers and wanted to be an example to them. When Seth, the youngest brother, joined the Army Infantry in January 2025, David followed suit. David told his mother, “I can’t let my younger brother set the example I was meant to do.”

David, with the support of phenomenal Boy Scout leadership, achieved the coveted rank of Eagle Scout, which less than five percent of Boy Scouts ever achieve. He loved Scouting and Scouting loved him. Whether it was camping, shooting, kayak making, or the like, he enjoyed it all. The Boy Scouts of America program and the leaders therein made David the man he was.

David graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2014 with not only a high school diploma but an International Baccalaureate diploma as well. He was in the Debate Club and loved all things STEM related. He went on to study his undergrad at BYU Idaho.

David served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Frankfurt, Germany. This was the exact same mission in which his father, Scott Skillman Jones, had served over 30 years prior. Unfortunately, Scott passed away whilst David was on his mission, yet he continued in memory of him. Somehow he came back with a British accent which is perplexing given that he never set foot in the British Isles. Regardless he served with honor and love in his heart and changed the lives of many. Ever since then he has had a fondness for Germany and hoped to one day return with his family.

Literature was one of David’s many passions. His thirst for knowledge was unquenchable and he would read anything that he could get his hands on. He loved history, poetry, anything science/engineering related, as well as a good story. Some of his favorite authors were Shakespeare, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Alan Poe, Robert A. Heinlein and many more. He also really enjoyed anything relating to vampires, which we will never understand.

No one ever knew what would come out of David’s mouth. They hung on his every word. He was loved by many and hated by few, yet nothing in between, which is a mark of a great man. He was genuine to the core and spoke his mind in absolute.

David always gravitated towards the forlorn, disregarded, outcasted, or those simply down on their luck. He would listen to anyone’s problems and withhold judgment. He would make notes of what mattered to people and made it his point to show them that he genuinely cared and took interest in their lives.

David enlisted into the United States Army in August of 2025. His Army basic training took place at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He had a rocky start and almost quit. Yet under caring command and leadership, specifically a Drill Sergeant, who rather than shun David took him on as his “pet project”, he was made into a fine American soldier. During his basic training period, David learned many things and amazingly lost 60 pounds. He struggled through it all, yet never gave up. David was then transferred to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, for his Advanced Individual Training in November of 2025. He excelled at the Satellite Comms courses and continued to better himself physically. We will not speak of David’s command or leadership at Fort Gordon, so draw your own conclusions.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who played a part in David’s life and helped him become the man he was. We will miss him dearly. There will never be another David. God broke the mold when He made DAVID!

David is survived by his mother Debra Higley, his brothers Richard Jones and Seth Jones, his stepfather Chuck Higley, as well as all his extended family. David was preceded in death by his father Scott Skillman Jones, his uncle Benjamin Darnell Jones, and his grandparents: Darnell Jones, Yvonne Skillman Jones, Paul Bohn, Laura Bohn, Barbara Jean Higley and Donald Higley.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the LDS chapel located on 8735 Harvard Park Drive, Sandy, Utah 84094. On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, there will be a viewing from 10:00 am to 10:45 am at the same location with funeral services following at 11:00 am. Dedicatory services for the grave will then follow that at Larkin Sunset Gardens with full military honors provided by the Utah National Guard. The funeral will be livestreamed and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.