William D. "Bill" Jones, Jr.

William D Jones, Jr of Needham passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, after a brief illness.  He was surrounded with love.  Bill was born in Needham.  He was the son of the late William D. Sr and Frances (Cefalo) Jones.  He was a dedicated, hard working son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and godfather.  He met his wife-to-be at the age of fifteen.  They were married for almost fifty-three years before she passed away in 2018.  Bill graduated with the NHS Class of 1961.  He enjoyed playing football for Needham and helping his family by working at the family farm, known as Rosemary Brook Farm.  He also worked at Kinne’s Pharmacy.  In 1965 he graduated from Lowell Technological Institute with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Upon graduating and getting married, he moved to the Berkshires where he worked at Sprague Electric for a couple of years before returning to the area.  During that time, vey close relationships were established with people who became life-long friends.  His next stop was Gillette in South Boston where he worked until retiring as the Asst. Director of Shave Test Technology.  Bill loved working with people!  Other favorite activities included playing hockey, poker, cards and golf with work friends, who also became life-long friends, and with neighbors.  Bill also drove a family-owned antique car in several of Needham’s Fourth of July parades with family members inside the vehicle.  He truly loved the outdoors.  He worked in his yard faithfully, doing “all the things”.  He could fix just about anything.  Bill loved to grill, host parties of all sorts, plant flowers, decorate the outside of his house for all seasons (especially at Christmas), snow blow and shovel.  Bill also served in his life-long parish of St. Joseph’s. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, usher, Spaghetti Dinner helper, and assisted his wife with numerous activities at the church. Bill enjoyed bowling with the Glover Memorial Hospital League along side his wife, family members and friends for many years.  Bill also loved his beach time and traveling to other countries and destinations by plane or ship.  He saw many beautiful places with church members, with family and with life-long friends.  He was a very generous man with a kind heart and had a wonderful sense of humor. He would assist family and friends whenever or wherever he was needed. His most beloved role was to help his children and grandchildren.  They meant the world to him.  He will be missed by many.  He loved to talk to people, as well as listen to people.  He would share life lessons with others. He was a very special man with a heart of gold!

Beloved husband of the late Marilyn M. (Messier) Jones. Loving father of Diane M. Ryan and her husband Bill and the late David D. Jones and his surviving wife Laura. Dear grandfather of Lori Jones, Allison James and Grace Ryan and great grandfather of Nirvana.

Visiting hours will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave, Needham on Monday, May 12th from 9-10:45 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Church, 1360 Highland Ave, Needham at 11am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham. In lieu of flowers donations in Bill’s name may be made to St. Joseph Parish, 1382 Highland Ave, Needham MA 02492.

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