William Dean Jones

William was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 29, 1927 to William Richards (1891-1977) and Agnes de Gooyer (de Gooijer) (1893-1968) Jones. He was the fifth of six children: Wesley Rey (1913-1992), Cleve Royce (1917-1943), Mervin Wayne (1918-2001), Norma (1921-1972), William Dean (1927-2019), and Thomas (1934-living). He graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City in 1945, going on to serve as a Corporal in the United States Army from 1946 to 1947. After his time in the military, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand from 1947 to 1949.

William married his sweetheart, Marilyn Palmer, in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints on September 5, 1950. They raised their five children in Canoga Park, California. They have a rich posterity, which includes thirty grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren. The Joneses recently celebrated 68 years of a happy marriage.

In 1952, he graduated with honors from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s of Science in math education, which led to a successful career. He worked as a school teacher at Bountiful High School and went on to work as a statistician for the US Army proving grounds in Dugway, Utah. He moved his family to Southern California (eventually Canoga Park) to work as a statistician for Lockheed Aircraft. He was then assigned to the Skunk Works division in Burbank, California, where he became an Operations Research Scientist and a Senior Scientist. As part of his work at Lockheed Aircraft, he worked the mathematics of aviation and stealth design and radar jamming for the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk and many other aircraft.

William was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his missionary service, he continued his church service in many capacities: Boy Scouts of America scoutmaster and scouting leader, Family Search Library director, ward bishop, stake high councilman, and ordinance worker in the Los Angeles Temple. William and Marilyn served two service missions together. They served in the Florida, Jacksonville mission from 1990 to 1991, and they served a mission in Los Angeles, working with the hearing impaired from 2000 to 2001.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Marilyn Palmer Jones; his children, Jarilee (Mark) Chidester, Warren Dean (Lynn) Jones, Bradley Royce (Vicki) Jones, Craig Leroy (Mary-deceased, Kelli) Jones, and Eric Matthew (Erin) Jones; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and the many others that knew and loved him throughout his church and community.

Special thanks to Kaiser Permanente Hospice staff for their sweet care and support.

Funeral Service at The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. - Moss Beach, CA

Funeral handle by Woodlawn Funeral Home - Colma, CA

Burial in Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, CA