William Watt Jones
REMEMBRANCE
Bob Leich send in: Bill was a classmate and fraternity brother. We became especially close when in my senior year I purchased a 1963 Corvette Stingray, and Bill had a fire engine red fuel-injected version of the same car. We took many memorable “road trips” together to Vassar and ran the ‘Vettes hard on the way. I have a picture taken of the two cars under my desk glass today which I always called, “Vettes at Vassar,” taken in front of the dorm where we were to pick up our dates. The Hollywood glasspak mufflers we had installed gave off a rumble such that the girls were hanging out of their windows when we pulled up. I always said that you could see the steam rising from the hoods. Bill was an attorney in Chicago and we kept in touch for years following graduation, but then in the days before email we drifted apart. I reconnected with him retired in Florida several years ago, and one year invited him to the Indy 500 Race. It was a great time that year with Yale roommate Dave Roscoe and fraternity brother Carl Farrington also attending, both of whom knew and remembered Bill. Serious prostate cancer which was caught too late. Another good friend gone.
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OBITUARY
William Watt Jones, 80, passed peacefully on June 1 in Spring Hill, Florida. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.Bill was born in 1943 in Glencoe, Illinois to parents Emily Watt and Walter Clyde Jones, Jr. He was a graduate of New Trier Township High School, majored in English at Yale University, attended U. S. Navy Officer Training School, served his country from the bridge of the USS Bennington (CV-20), and received his law degree from Northwestern University. He dedicated his working years to Navistar in the Chicago area and retired as Lead General Counsel after 23 years. Following a brief venture in luxury yacht sales, Bill retired to Florida where he fell in love and married his adoring wife, Marijke P. Jordan.
Bill was an avid swimmer, golfer and experienced recreational boater who put his retirement to good use through service at the local yacht club, fighting for the legal rights of Navistar’s retirees, providing unlimited handyman services to neighbors in need, crushing crossword and sudoku puzzles and ensuring that Marijke knew she was always safe and loved. Bill credited his relationship with Marijke for providing him with serenity, appreciation and unwavering positivity. Onward and Upward!
Bill is survived by his wife, Marijke, his children, Christopher A. Jones (Nancy), Carolyn W. Mauterer (Jason), Catherine J. Hain (John), Marijke’s daughters Carolyn M. Jordan (Tom) and Nicole M. Jordan and his grandchildren Ethan, Jack, Brody, Bonnie, Lucas, Clyde, AJ, Sophie, Sully, Samantha and Connor and his brother Walter Clyde Jones III.
He is preceded in death by his sisters Mary Helen McKeldin and Emily Hubbard Meeker.
The family will be holding private services to celebrate a life well lived.
In lieu of sending flowers, the family encourages donations to the Wounded Warrior Project be made in honor of Bill’s memory. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate