William L. “Bill” Jones departed this life on earth for life eternal with Jesus, on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at the age of 88 years.

Bill was born February 27, 1918 to Guy W. Jones and Golda McFarlin Jones.

He lived with his family on a farm in Lincoln County and attended a rural grade school.

He married Emily C. Anderson on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938.

Bill worked on a farm near Vera, Oklahoma and worked various jobs in Yale, Oklahoma. They moved to California in 1942 where he learned the welding trade while working in the shipyards. He and his family moved back to Oklahoma in 1943 and Bill went to work in an aircraft plant in Tulsa.

He was injured while serving in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1946. Later he started his own welding business and worked in the oil fields of Oklahoma and Texas. He became known as one of the best welders in Oklahoma. He was forced to retire from welding at age 59 due to health problems.

In the fall of 1980, Bill enrolled at Gulf-Coast Bible College in Houston, Texas. He received his degree in Pastoral Ministries in May 1983 and began pastoring a church in Oklahoma City. He retired from active ministry in the fall of 1985 and Bill and Emily moved to their retirement home on Lake Tenkiller. They enjoyed traveling in their motor home and spending the winter months in Tucson, Arizona.

Bill was preceded in death by Emily, his loving and faithful wife of over 60 years; his parents; a sister, Wonda Jones; and a brother, Everett Jones.

He is survived by his children, Waymond Jones and his wife Johnna of Tahlequah; Willene McLaury and her husband Wallace of Cushing; Sharon Parvin and her husband Garry of Grove; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Saturday, December 23, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the First Church of God with Reverend Kevin Clouse and Reverend Donald R. Nichols officiating.

Burial will follow in the Flynn Cemetery.