William J. Jones Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

William J. Jones DOB 5/7/1933 Obituary William (Bill) Joseph Jones, a longtime resident of Montecito CA who valued his family, enjoyed fishing and sailing, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 89. Bill is remembered for his wide warm smile, strong core values, sense of humor, and passion for helping others. Anyone who dealt with him knew that his handshake was a contract. Bill was born in Altadena, CA, on May 7, 1933, to Helen Rund Jones, of Illinois, and William Ellis Jones, of Wales. The eldest of three sons, Bill and his brothers were raised in Glendale and attended Catholic schools. Bill played football at St. Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge and earned Eagle Scout honors. Bill’s father became disabled by blindness, and Bill entered the workforce after graduating from high school, helping his mother, who was a nurse, provide for the family. He also spent time with his brother David, serving as scoutmaster for his troop. Around this time, Bill met Elizabeth Mary Henry of Glendale. They fell in love and married a few years later. Bill had a variety of jobs in the business community, but settled into working for Excel-Mineral Company in 1959. At the time, Excel was a small company that produced and marketed industrial absorbents (Quik-Sorb) as well as cat litter (Jonny Cat). Bill initially was involved in sales of industrial products but soon was heading up an effort to market and sell cat litter to the grocery trade through food brokers. As sales grew, he was named sales manager, and then Vice President, then Senior Vice President of Sales. During this time, Excel’s sales grew from 500 tons a month to 15,000 tons a month, and Excel became the third ranking U.S. producer of absorptive minerals. Bill served on the Excel board of directors for more than 10 years. He was president of the Sorbitive Mineral Institute (SMI) as well as the Sanitary Supply Association of Southern California, both trade organizations, for many years. To build relationships with brokers and others, he organized fishing trips (deep sea, salmon, etc.) that he thoroughly enjoyed. When he wasn’t working, Bill was with his wife and spending time with the family, which had grown to six children. He took them on camping trips around the western United States and Canada, vacations which incidentally also gave Bill opportunities to fish. After moving to Montecito in 1974, the family became involved in the Santa Barbara Sea Shell Association and the Santa Barbara Sailing Club, so the Joneses were down at the harbor sailing Sea Shells, Cyclones and windsurfers near the Santa Barbara pier nearly every weekend in the summer and also taking trips around the state (Westlake, Lake Lopez, San Diego) for regattas. Bill and Beth made lifelong friends with parents involved in the group at that time, and they frequently got together for card games and fun adventures. Bill and Beth also took many trips by themselves, exploring cities around Europe as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas. In 2015, Bill and Beth moved into Maravilla, a senior housing community in Santa Barbara. Bill attended men’s group meetings and played poker weekly. He was often relaxing in the public living rooms and he would stop staff when they were giving tours to prospective residents so he could share what he loved about Maravilla. Bill died June 30 at VNA Serenity House. He is survived by his wife, Beth, and their children: Douglas Jones and John McGuinness, of Los Angeles; Kathy Jones and Mark Norum, of Solvang; Brian Jones, of Ventura; Sharon Jones and Stephen Simpson, of San Diego; Marie Jones Rembert and Alex Rembert, of Tustin; and Diane Jones, of Santa Barbara. He is also survived by his brothers, Jack Jones, of Grass Valley, and David Jones, of Colorado Springs, CO, and six grandchildren, Davis and Cailey Rembert, Zia and Lucca Simpson, and Carter and Marisa Jones. A funeral mass is planned for noon on Saturday, July 16 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Montecito. A visitation is planned at Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel in Santa Barbara for July 15. Hawaiian shirts are encouraged for both events. The family wishes to thank the staff at Cottage Hospital, VNA Serenity House (a beautiful hospice), and others for their compassionate care of Bill. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1300 East Valley Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, or VNA Serenity House (go to VNA Health’s donation page and direct a gift to go to Serenity House. Visit this link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E9655&id=116

William J. Jones

May 7, 1933 - June 30, 2022