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WILLARD "BILL" JONES
July 20, 1927 ~ March 21, 2011
Bill was a wonderful husband, partner, father, father-in-law, grand- father and great friend to many over the years. Bill passed away March 21, 2011 at the age of 83, after a long battle with COPD.
Bill was born in Portland, Oregon and spent the rest of his 83 years living in Clark County, Washington.
He spent 46 years working for the Coca Cola Company. After two years of employment he enlisted in the Air Force and served his country as an airplane mechanic during WWII. After he was honorably discharged from the military he returned to Coca Cola for the next 44 years. He was a great refrigeration technician and over the years received many calls from friends and family to please come repair a refrigerator or freezer. He retired from Coca Cola in 1989.
Bill had many interests in life, but he especially enjoyed working in his shop, going woodcutting with family and friends and tending his vegetable garden and yard. Nobody could plant as straight a row in their garden as Bill. His crops were so bountiful that he gave away many vegetables to family and friends. Bill enjoyed countless hours over the years working with his sons Tom and Steve in his garage on automotive and other repair projects. Family and friends spent many happy hours with Bill swapping stories at the kitchen table or on the patio.
Bill spent the past few years with partner, Laura Campbell. They enjoyed sharing the Pickles cartoon, working in the yard and garden and many other fun projects. He was thoroughly loved by both family and friends.
Bill's wife Jean preceded him in death in December 2000.
He is survived by his sons, Steve Jones, Tom Jones, daughters-in-law, Mary Jones, Jewelie Jones and grandchildren Lori LaRue, Lisa Jones, Sarah Lee, Stevie Jones, Zachary Moore, Stephanie Dees and his partner, Laura Campbell.
A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at Layne's Funeral home at 16 NE Clark Avenue, Battle Ground, Washington, followed by a graveside Honor Guard, and reception at Evergreen Memorial Garden, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, WA
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 91809, or The Ray Hickey Hospice House, at 2112 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661.
Please view/sign his guestbook at www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Bill will be forever missed. His smile, his gentle ways, his fierce devotion to family and his ever-green gardening thumb will remain in our hearts. There will never be another Bill. Our love and sympathy to Tom and Steve, Jewelie, Lisa, Mary and all of the Jones family.
Judy A. Halone
March 31, 2011
I got to meet Bill at various family functions of Steve and Mary's, and he always had a great hello and smile even though he didn't know me that well. I could easily see how much he was loved by everyone, and know he will be missed grately. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you and your family.
Janeane Taylor
March 30, 2011
Bill was such a wonderful man. He was not only our daughters landlord but then ours after she moved. We spent many wonderful years in that little brown house next to Bill. He generously gave us half the garden to use and taught us exactly how to plant it. Matt enjoyed learning from Bill about how to take care of the garden. I however new how important a mowed lawn was to Bill so I tried my hardest to get the lawn mowed before he ever had a chance to say anything. He had no idea that he and I were always in competition as to who would get there side mowed first. Our grandson Ian loved Bill and said tonight how he remembered him and Bill putting gasoline on the dandelions to kill them. We still laugh at the time when Ian was about 3 1/2 and he was very fond of the Cops show and his handcuffs and he went next door with his handcuffs and handcuffed Bill up against the side of the house. We have many great memories of your family. He will always hold a special place in our hearts. He was one of the most generous and kind men I have ever known. One of a kind. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Button & Matt Williams
March 29, 2011
Tom, we are so sorry for your loss. Your dad was a great guy and he passed it on to you and your brother.
Greg Winters
March 29, 2011
Our sincere condolences to Bill's family. As a hospital employee, I got to know Bill quite well over the past few years when he was in the hospital, and I really enjoyed both caring for him and just stopping by to visit him, and most of the time Laura was there also, she is awesome as well. I feel bad that I didn't get to see him the last time he was there. From my visits with Bill over the past few years, I can tell he was a GREAT man, and very loved by his family. I have known Steve and Tom for many years, and like their father, they are great people. If you need anything at all, please call us. We love you all much.
Tom & Lois Magoon
March 29, 2011
Bill was not only my landlord for about 5 years but he became like a grandfather to me. I remember when I left on a vacation and my cat was hit by a car and he took it upon himself to bury my cat and then told me what had happened when i got home. This was just one of the many kind things he did for me or my family. He was a man of his word always honoring a handshake. He always had tons of great stories that always left me in stitches my fave was "the franz delivery man". He was also very proud of his family and bragged about all of you. Im glad i was able to see him recently even if it was at the hospital. He made a huge impact in my life. My heart aches for his wonderfully loving family who will indeed carry on his legacy. My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. Danielle Coates
danielle coates
March 29, 2011
To all the Jones family, I always enjoyed seeing Bill at Hi- School then Walgreens. He always had a big smile i always enjoyed talking to him. I want you all to know your in my thoughts and prayers. Paula
March 29, 2011
BIll; you will be missed; I am glad I got to know you the little bit I did the past couple of years; you were such a blessing; even though you were sick you always ask how my husband was!!; blessing and prayer goes out to your family
Liz Brewer
liz brewer
March 28, 2011
We will remember Bill for his caring and compassionate ways. When his mother was unstable on her feet, Bill went out to the family place to care for her. He slept on the floor so he would be handy to help her when she stirred in the night. After his mom passed on, he was also very caring for his disabled sister Shirley. A truly loving man full of good deeds.
Charles & Lois Dailey
March 27, 2011
I am at a loss for 'words' that could even come close to capturing how amazing Bill was! I wish I would have had Bill make a journal on how to grow a garden like his...I guess I just thought he would be here forever. I miss Bill so much already...thank you for loving us all so much
Beth Johnson
March 27, 2011
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