William V. Jones

Bill Jones was a man with a gleam in his eye, a spring in his step, and a song in his heart, which he danced to every day of his life. He was a remarkable man, a hardworking, fun-loving family man, a man of passion, of principle, character and charisma. Bill was a loving husband, partner, father and grandfather, a good man, and a great friend. Bills story began on a hot summer day in 1928, as the Fourth of July fireworks finished in Muskegon, Michigan. Those were good times in this country, the calm before the terrible storm of the Great Depression, and the twilight of the Roaring 20s. On July 5, 1928, a hot, humid Thursday, William and Edna (Lafayette) Jones kept the celebration going, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named William Vernon Jones. Little Bill was joined in his familys home by his adopted brother Richard, and had a brother, John, who died as an infant. Bill's father worked as a mason and his mom worked in a button factory, and passed on their work ethic to their children. The family lived on Kinsey Street, but the mischievous young Bill spent most of his youth running around town and looking for fun. From an early age, it was clear Bill always knew how to have fun. He loved to throw green grapes at the familys outhouse when his dad was inside (and always paid the price for doing so!), and he loved playing baseball or shooting his bow and arrows. Bill went to Muskegon Schools through the eighth grade, when he found other things to occupy his time. His hijinks got more elaborate as he got older, and once Bill and his buddies stole a car and drove it to Pentwater, then rolled it over the cliff! Bill had a gleam in his eye, but was a good young man at heart. When America went to war after Pearl Harbor, Bill was just a boy. But in 1945, able to wait no longer, the 17-year-old Bill lied about his age and enlisted in the Marines, and promptly shipped out for China. He served on a watch team in China, and had his share of hijinks in the military, too (including sneaking to the front of the mess hall line!). After the war ended, Bill was discharged, and returned to his roots in Muskegon. He found work at the Campbell, Wyant & Cannon foundry, proudly joining the union as a pipe fitter in 1946. It was a good place to work, and provided Bill with a long and rewarding career. His professional life in place, Bills personal life was about to get more interesting, as well. One night Bill went to a dance at the Grange Hall with his Kinsey Street Gang, and spotted the beautiful June Kubon with her friends. Bill made sure he danced with her that night, and a romance soon ensued much to her fathers chagrin. The hardworking farmer didnt approve of the city boy Bill, but it became a true love story, and Bill and June were married on October 28, 1950. Their lifelong friends Casey Molhoek and Betty (Ackerberg) McMillan were their witnesses. Times were tough on the couple starting out, but they saved all they could, and simply loved being together. Theyd save all their change in a Past the Dalton Light jar, and when it got full, off theyd go up north, past that landmark light on Dalton Road. In 1957, the husband and wife became father and mother, too, with the birth of their beautiful baby girl Tammie. They rounded out the happy family with their sweet little Cindie in 1960, and Bill was so thrilled to become a father. He was the best dad anyone could have, the girls remember, and their house was a truly happy home. The girls remember how much Bill and June were in love, too. Anytime their favorite song came on the kitchen radio, Bill would grab June and twirl her around the kitchen until the stove boiled over! Thats just the way Bill was, though. He was such a fun-loving man, always the life of the party, always dancing through his days. He found fun in everything he did, and everywhere he went, and had so many passions in his life. Bill loved fishing, hunting, golfing (and even had a hole in one), camping, traveling, feeding the deer in his garden, whittling, playing poker and cribbage (and once had a perfect cribbage hand), and collecting coins and lighthouses, too! As hard as he played, Bill worked even harder, always the consummate provider for his family. In 1966, after 20 years at the foundry, he was promoted to maintenance supervisor, where he worked for another 20 years until he retired. In his 40s, he also worked part-time for the rich people on Ruddiman Drive, too. He used his extra income for family vacations, and even bought a boat and two campers with his savings! They saw so much together, too. Bills travels over the years included lots of family vacations up north with the Ackerbergs and the Ericksons, and also to many states around the country, including a month-long trip out West. In his retirement, he traveled to Alaska, New England, Australia, New Zeeland, Europe, Boston, Hawaii, Cancun, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. Bill loved to travel, and loved to share his adventures with the people he loved. Bill shared a special experience with his daughter Tammie in 1976, when he went back to school and passed his GED test so he could graduate with her at Reeths Puffer High School, fulfilling a promise he made to himself all those years before. Bills beloved June suffered a stroke in 1985, and after a difficult, life-or-death decision, he asked doctors to try a risky procedure that not only saved her life, but had her back up and dancing almost a year to the day of her stroke. That was Bill, though. He would do anything and everything he could for the people he loved. Bill and June were so happily married for nearly 44 wonderful years, until she sadly died on August 23, 1994. Bill missed his beloved wife terribly, but he wasnt meant to live his life alone. He was fortunate to find a beautiful best friend and companion in 1995, when one of Junes best friends introduced him to Vivian Young. They went to the movies, hit it off, and were together from that day forward. Vivian and Bill spent their wonderful winters in Texas, and returned home to Muskegon in the summertime, to spend with their families. Bill remained as vibrant and active as ever all of his days, too. In September of 2007, he and Vivian flew first class to visit his daughter Cindie in Hawaii for two weeks, where he went to visit a WWII hanger memorial he donated money to build. Then the first weekend in October of 2007, he played 36 holes of golf, pulled a pump out of a creek, cleaned his carpets, and then went dancing with Vivian that afternoon. Bill collapsed on the dance floor, and never regained consciousness. He sadly died on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 11:06 a.m., with his family by his side. His friend Betty Ackerberg said Leave it to Billie Jones to dance his way out of here. That was Bill, all right, always dancing through life, dancing to the song that played in his heart every day. What a heart he had, a heart so full of kindness and compassion, of generosity and humility. Bill was so many things, a hardworking family man, a loving husband, partner, father and friend. He was honest, he was trusting, so full of character and charisma. Most of all, he was a man with a gleam in his eye and a song in his heart, a song he sang to all who knew him. He will be so greatly missed. Bill is survived by 2 daughters, Tammie Sue Jones of Muskegon & Cindie Kay Jones of Muskegon & Kauai, HI; best friend/companion, Vivian Young of Holton. He was preceded in death by his wife, June on August 23, 1994, brother, John Jones & an adopted brother, Richard Jones of Bangor, MI. Services will take place Saturday, October 13, 2007, 10:30 AM at Clock Chapel with interment at Fruitland Township Cemetery following. Visitation is Thursday, 6-8 PM and Friday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Attn: Lauren Avery, 319 Lexington Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96818. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.