William Edward Jones Jr.

William Edward Jones, Jr., 75, of Union, NJ, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Winchester Gardens in Maplewood, NJ.

William, or Butch as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was born on November 14, 1950, to William Edward Jones, Sr. and Mabel Jones (Wilson) in Bayonne, NJ.

William was a graduate of Samuel Roberson School (#7) and Bayonne High School, class of 1968. After graduation, he was employed by Best Foods, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Although he served during the Vietnam Conflict, he was stationed in Germany as a pay specialist. William was a member of Flournoy Gethers Post 7470, in Bayonne. Once discharged from the Army, William returned to Best Foods where he was joyfully employed until their untimely closing in 2002.

William loved working at Best Foods. His co-workers became friends. They played softball and bowled together in local leagues. They celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and milestones in each other's lives, often with parties at Chris's Corner. Butch was the unofficial photographer and shot hundreds of photos capturing these moments.

His talent for photography led him to work part-time for several years with a high-end studio, photographing hundreds of weddings. He often had Brian Robinson, his beloved nephew, as his assistant. Together they shared a love of photography, chess, and jazz music.

In the early 1980's, with Mike Middleton, Leon Gayle and Glenn Johnson, a legendary basketball team was born, The Magic Company. The Magic Company won many titles in the Bayonne recreational league.

Barely six months ago, the life-long friendship of Butch and Mike Middleton ended with Mike's passing. From Pop Warner football teams through 2025, they had an unbreakable bond of true friendship.

Butch possessed many gifts and talents, including the remarkable ability to recall every play from every NBA, NFL and MLB game he ever watched. He passionately followed the Yankees and Raiders. He attended a Yankees World Series game and a Raiders game in all 3 California stadiums.

Butch was a lifelong Santana fan and jazz music afficionado. He respected the jazz greats and enjoyed listening to live music in jazz clubs. Butch had a lightness of spirit, a kind heart and a devotion to family that never wavered.

From his initial doctor visit in 2023 through his final day, Butch's brother Barry was there, supporting Butch and his wife Diane. An unbelievable brother, supporter and source of comfort for both Butch and Diane, he sacrificed many hours to ensure that his brother's medical needs were addressed. His sister-in-law Linda was also steadfast in her support, providing home cooked meals and thoughtful prayers.

William is survived by his wife of 40 years, Diane (Deitz), daughters Candace Miller and Janeen Miller (Eric); grandchildren Marissa, Joshua, Nicholas (Sophia), Nasir and Jamiir; great-grandchildren Cyrus and Scarlett; brothers Barry (Linda), Wendell, and Ernest; sister Harriett Wilson; sister-in-law Jean Hand; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Iona and nephew Robert.