William Jones Obituary

William Boyd Jones passed away at home in Colorado Springs, CO surrounded by his wife Mary and his second daughter Karen Jones on March 18, 2013, just two days shy of his 88th birthday. He moved to Colorado Springs more than fifteen years ago after living the majority of his adult life in the Chicago area. Known as Bill to his friends, he was born in Marietta, Arkansas in 1925 to Claudia Williams and William M. Jones. He had two sisters (Maxine Plant of Colorado Springs, CO. and Martha Lee Williamson of Holly Grove, Arkansas) both of whom have preceded him in death. Bill attended the Ray Vogue School of Design in Chicago and earned a degree in Commercial Arts. He was an accomplished artist and title designer for the movie and television industry; ultimately opening Visual Effects Inc., his very own graphic arts studio in Chicago. In 1965 Bill married Mary Margaret Sullivan of Houston, TX and very soon thereafter had four children. In addition to Karen, who moved to Colorado to assist in his care, he also had Mary D. Allison (married to William J. Allison) of Palm Desert, CA; Elaine Brennan (married to Robert Brennan) of Peyton, CO; and his only son, W. Brian Jones (married to Jennifer Jones) of Plainfield, IL. He is also survived by several grandchildren: Heather Smith (married to USAF Technical Sargent Daniel P. Smith) of Colorado Springs, Sydney and Morgan Jones and Berkeley Allison. Bill graduated as valedictorian from Marvell High School when WWII began. As many young men from "The Greatest Generation", he enlisted in the US Army to serve and defend our great nation. He was a combat infantryman in the Pacific Theater for Company A 322nd infantry. For his service he was awarded a Bronze Arrowhead for the assault of Angaur, a Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. As luck would have it, upon his return to the United States after being wounded, his transport plane was shot down while still in enemy territory. Thankfully he survived the crash landing and eventually made it home. Bill was a hard-working man who always made sure that his family had a roof overhead and food on the table. Although times were tough, he never gave up loving and supporting his family every day. In his later years he loved to watch old movies, have an occasional Margarita and sit outside in his yard. Bill would read the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand and soak up the Colorado sun. He was greatly loved in this lifetime, and his memory will be cherished forever by those who knew him. He will be buried in Denver, CO at Fort Logan National Cemetery on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 1:30 PM. For additional information please contact The Neptune Society at 303-427-5157. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior Program at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or call 719.377.9491.