EATON — For the ninth year, the Mindy Sue Jones-Vannatter family gathered on a midsummer Saturday morning to dress in orange, serve pancakes to blood donors, and revitalize the memory of their “daddy in heaven.”

The orange “Vincent Strong” wrist bands, t-shirts, balloons and cookies are a show of unity against leukemia and a celebration of the life of Vincent Jones, who received more than 50 blood products before his death from blood cancer in 2016.

The ninth annual Vincent Jones Memorial blood drive is a lasting tribute to the blood donations that helped him live long enough to see his newborn son Jeremiah.

His widow Mindy Sue began the blood drive at the Eaton First Church of God to also help Solvita (formerly Community Blood Center) during one of the most difficult times of year for blood collection. Saturday’s blood drive totaled 39 whole blood, platelets, and plasma donors.

“He was not able to fulfill his wish of being there to witness Jeremiah’s birth,” said Mindy Sue. “But 24 hours later a special team of nurses brought Jeremiah to meet him. They gave us 20 minutes and he was able to hold him.” She said Vincent was then transferred to OSU, “and he never made it home.”

“He’s not here, he physically is not here, but his legacy is here at the blood drive,” said Mindy Sue. “Nine years is a long time.”

In that time Mindy Sue married Matthew Vannatter and gave birth to her third son Amadeus. Her first son Gabriel is old enough to remember his father and to ask questions about the blood drive.

“I told him, I hope you and your brother will keep it going,” said Mindy Sue. “If we’re still here in 50 years, it will be like their daddy had a full life.”

Vincent’s brother Craig Jones kept the tradition of donating in Vincent’s memory Saturday morning before going on duty at the Eaton Police Department.

He began donating platelets during Vincent’s treatment when he learned his rare AB blood type was ideal for helping cancer patients.

“It’s cool seeing a lot of people that have been coming since the first memorial blood drive,” said Craig. “Especially as Gabriel and Jeremiah get older, they’re noticing things more now. People showing support and honoring their dad is a real testimony for them to see. Even if they don’t remember him, they’re able to see how he affected people with his life, and they’re able to keep his memory alive.”

Lewisburg donor Destiny Simon is a 2024 graduate of Tri-County North High School and plans to study nursing. Mindy Sue was her high school Spanish teacher.

“She kept fighting after everything,” said Destiny. “You don’t give up. She telling her story told us if something like this happens to them, you don’t have to be alone.”

Schedule an appointment to donate with Solvita on the Donor Time app, by calling 937-461-3220, or at www.donortime.com. Walk-ins are welcome at the Solvita Dayton Center, 349 S. Main St. in Dayton.