William Nathaniel Jones

1926 - 2018

1926 - 2018
Sandy, Utah-William Nathaniel Jones 1926-2018. Beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, William N. Jones (Bill) passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 19, 2018. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and by many colleagues from a lifetime of church and community service. His family is filled with joy knowing that Bill and his eternal companion, Eleanor Park Jones (Ellie), are together again.
Bill focused his life on nurturing his family and extending consecrated, Christ-like service to others. An only child, he and Ellie were lovingly devoted to raising a large family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They took great care to ensure that their growing family was nurtured in the gospel of Jesus Christ. During her later years, Bill helped his beloved Ellie through her struggle with severe memory loss. The love, devotion, and strength they demonstrated during this difficult time provided inspiration to all who knew them.
Born on May 14, 1926 in Ogden, Utah to Bliss Ivins Jones and Aaron Barlow Jones, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the North China Sea. After returning from war, he completed his B.A. degree at the University of Utah in Electrical Engineering and Spanish. Bill also played football on the "U" varsity team. He later received an M.B.A. from the Harvard University Business School. At Harvard, Bill met the beautiful and talented Eleanor Park, who was studying at Harvard's Radcliffe College. Bill and many of his friends helped Ellie learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After joining the church, Bill and Ellie were married in 1955 and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Their love for each other was strong and exemplary throughout their lives.
Bill was deeply committed to consecrated service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a Missionary (Uruguay-Paraguay), District President (Massachusetts), Bishop (serving under stake president, Gordon B. Hinckley), Mission President (Uruguay-Paraguay), Regional Representative, President of the Mexico City Missionary Training Center, and as a Sealer in the Bountiful Utah Temple. For decades, Bill was joyfully engaged in community service. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve as the founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of Intermountain Health Care, on the University of Utah Medical Hospital Board, and as an elected official of the Utah State Senate.
Bill loved the excitement and challenges of creating business opportunities, and founded and invested in several successful enterprises, including Electro Controls, LiteTouch, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Questar, Mountain Fuel, Snowbird Ski Resort, Allendale Insurance, and Lloyd's of London.
Bill Jones is survived by seven children, Allison Drew (Craig), Debora Christensen (Elder Craig C. Christensen), Nathaniel Jones (Lana), Dr. Shawn Jones (Chris), Heather Lovell (Paul), Robin Barden (Dr. R. Chris), and Matthew Jones; along with 27 grandchildren, and 30 great-grand-children. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Mueller Park 10th Ward Chapel, 1800 East Mueller Park Road (1800 South), Bountiful, UT. Viewings will be held on Friday evening, October 26th, from 6 - 8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, UT, and on Saturday morning just prior to the memorial services from 9:00-10:30 a.m. The Interment will be the Salt Lake City Cemetery following the funeral. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com