He was born Oct. 31, 1935 in Big Spring, Texas, the son of Paul Millard and Ala Beaty Jones. He graduated in 1954 from Sinton High School, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics with a minor in mechanical engineering from University of Texas at Austin in 1968. While at UT-Austin, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Bill served in the United States Army and Army Reserves, at the rank of corporal. In his private sector career, he worked as a manufacturing engineer in the oilfield services industry, including several years with Schlumberger.
Bill lived most of his life in Houston, and upon retirement settled first in Alvin, Texas, then Austin, where he enjoyed flying remote-controlled model airplanes with his friends and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a faithful follower of Texas Longhorns football, was an accomplished sailor of small watercraft, loved to fish, and enjoyed shooting skeet and sporting clays. He was affiliated with the Methodist Church and was an active member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, a world-class association of modelers throughout the United States, as well as the National Rifle Association.
Bill was a quiet and thoughtful man who loved his family. He lived a life of discipline and moderation, and he was content spending time in his home workshop repairing or improving electronic and mechanical equipment. He was loved by his family and a circle of friends that extended far beyond Texas, from New England to South Africa.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, the former Elizabeth Louise “Bunky” Gardner. He is survived by a brother, Alan “Skip” Jones and his wife Joan of Manhattan, Kansas; a daughter, Julia Jones Scott and her husband William of Austin; a son, Scott Flinn Jones and his wife Dusty of Huntsville, Texas; three grandsons, William Tucker Frazier of Euless, Texas; Colin Wolfe and Scott Flinn Jones, Jr., both of Huntsville, Texas; a granddaughter, Reilly Elizabeth Frazier of Austin; and other extended family.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec 6th followed by a funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive.
