WILLIAM MILLER JONES
1942-2018
William Miller “Bill” Jones died unexpectedly on Sunday, the 9th of September 2018, while exercising on his beloved beach in Galveston, Texas. His wife and two sons were by his side when he left this earth and went to be with our Lord.
Bill was born on the 21st of January 1942, in Prospect Heights, Illinois, to Lavilla and Ira Jones. When Bill was seven years old they moved to Bellaire where he attended Grady Elementary, Pershing Junior High and graduated from Bellaire High School in 1960, where he played baseball and football. He attended Texas Tech University on a scholarship as an athletic trainer for the basketball team and was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and the Double T Letterman’s Association.
Bill married Patricia Ann Holmes in December of 1963 and was blessed to have spent almost 55 years by one another’s side.
Bill was very active with his children’s youth baseball and football as a coach. He not only was there for his children, but also there to mentor other children that were lucky enough to be on “Coach” Bill Jones’ team. His grandchildren even called him “Coach.”
Bill began his career with Howse and Jones Insurance and then opened his own insurance firm, W. M. Jones & Company Inc., in 1982.
He was also a dedicated supporter of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where he served on the Western Art, Risk Management and the World’s Championship Barbecue Committees. He served as the Chairman of the WCBBQ from 1995-1997 and was a Lifetime Director.
Bill is survived by his wife Pat: sons, Jay Patrick Jones and his wife Jennifer, and Jeffrey Michael Jones and his wife Katherine; his grandchildren, “The Magnificent Seven,” Jaymie, Jordan, Kaitlyn, Jacob, Mackenzie, Declan and Jessica; and his park walking companions, Tito and Scooter.
Friends are cordially invited to a memorial reception from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 12th of September, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 13th of September, in the Sanctuary at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11440 Greenbay Street in Houston, where Dr. Wick Stucky is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby fellowship hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Bill’s name be directed to the Westview School for Autism, 1900 Kersten Dr., Houston, TX, 77043; or to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund, attn: Jamie Voskamp, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, Texas 77225.