William Benjamin Jones Obituary (1949

William Benjamin "Bill" Jones, 69 of Carlock, passed away at 3:05 PM on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Advocate Bromenn in Normal. Bill was born November 24, 1949 in Bloomington, IL to Ben Jones and Loada Gaines Jones. He married Trudy Sweet of Colfax, IL on September 6,1970 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IL. They were married for 11 years and had three children, Chad (Adrienne) Jones of Louisville, KY, Merissa (William) Newton of Christiana, TN, Meranda (Jermaine) Simmons of Bloomington. On October 24, 1987, he married Nancy Edwards at Funks Grove Church, McLean, IL and became stepfather to Dean (Robin) Edwards of Toluca, IL, and Tiffany Ward of Bloomington. Bill is survived by his wife Nancy, all of his children, four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, two nieces, three nephews and one sister, Deborah Williamson of Bartonville, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Pycior and Donna Keith, and two stepfathers, Don Schweizer and Robert Sanders. Bill Jones was a renaissance man. From an early age, he was resourceful, driven and hard working. During his teenage years, he carried a paper route and never missed an opportunity to earn an income. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1968. Bill served in the United States Air Force from August 1969-February 1970, as SGT E4 Senior Airman at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL. He received an Honorable Hardship Discharge in 1970, then remained on inactive reserves with the Army National Guard, as Sergeant E5 for Support Company 1st Battalion 123rd Infantry, until 1976. Early in his civilian career, Bill was a lineman for Illinois Power Company in Bloomington, IL. In the late 70's he began his venture into tree care service in Bloomington, IL, before transitioning into self-employment as a professional horticultural arborist with Jones Tree Surgery. He retired in 2018, after more than 40 years of serving his tree care clientele in the Bloomington-Normal area. Bill had many hobbies and interests throughout his life, including billiards, trap shooting, golf, karaoke and collecting the uniquities of the world. He was an expert storyteller, never lost for a joke or anecdote and his larger-than-life personality allowed him to know few strangers. He will be missed. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Monday, July 22, 2019 at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. Visitation will occur from 3-5PM, with Reverend Elissa Bailey officiating the memorial services beginning at 5:00PM. Military rites will be performed by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard at the conclusion of the memorial service. There will be no immediate interment. Memorial Contributions may be made to National Arbor Foundation.