WILLIAMSBURG—It is with deep sadness that the family of William “Bill” Wallace Jones of Williamsburg, announces his passing. He passed away from pancreatic cancer on August 1, 2022, at the age of 79.
He is survived by his three children, Lawrence Anthony Jones, Virginia Ann Jones and Brian Edward Jones of California and New Mexico. He was proud and honored to be the grandfather of 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude Elizabeth Johnson Jones; his sister, Lelia A. Brooks II; his mother, Myrtle D. Brooks; and his father, Lucine Wallace Jones.
He also is survived by his sisters, Nancy Jones Kellum and Carolyn Jones Frost (Michael); three nephews, Justin Frost (Sarah), Brandon Frost (Melissa) and Archie Kellum (Michelle); great-niece, Genevieve Kellum and great-nephew, Nicholas Kellum.
As a child growing up in the Northern Neck his first job, after push-mowing his grandmother’s large yard in Irvington, was setting duck pins at the bowling alley in White Stone and later clerking at the Ben Franklin Store in Kilmarnock.
In his spare time he was a star football player on Coach Ward’s LHS team. His football jersey “number 21” was retired when he graduated in 1964. He also played on the LHS baseball team and sang tenor in the Glee Club, under the direction of Louise Hall.
Bill retired from General Telephone and Electric in California in 1998. Always a hard worker, he then began his second career working the last 20 years for the Walmart Corporation in Williamsburg. Although he had two long careers, he was most proud of being in the U.S. Air Force and a Vietnam veteran. He was based in DaNang, Saigon and in the Philippines.
Bill also grew up strong in faith and was baptized at the age of 12 in the sanctuary of the Irvington Baptist Church. His ancestors were founding members of IBC and Bill was a lifelong member. He attended Sunday school, BTU and vacation Bible school. He will be reunited with some of his loving family when he is buried in the family plot.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at Irvington Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors. Rev. John Farmer and Chaplain Lee Farmer will officiate the services.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
