William (Bill) Allison Jones Sr., 78, of East Ridge passed away Thursday, June 9th after a battle with ALS.
Bill was a longtime resident of Chattanooga and retired vice president-commercial lender from Northwest Georgia Bank in 2009 after more than 50 years in the workforce.
After more than two decades in banking and finance, Mr. Jones joined Northwest Georgia Bank in April 2000, though his first career centered on the military and television.
Born in Ringgold, GA and delivered by Doc Stevens, Bill lived in Fort Oglethorpe for a while and later graduated from Central High School in 1963, marrying his wife Glenda in 1965.
He attended the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, majoring in business administration, and later attended Chattanooga State Community College, majoring in traffic and transportation.
He worked as a cameraman, director, technical director, and audio engineer at WRCB TV-Channel 3 from 1965-74.
Bill served in the US Army from 1968-1970, with a year’s duty in the Republic of Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group Airborne, where he earned the Bronze Star. He joined the US Army Reserve in 1972 serving during the Gulf War in 1990, and retired a Sergeant Major in 1995.
In 1974 he joined Chattanooga Federal Savings & Loan as a loan officer. In 1992, through n acquisition, he worked for First Federal Savings Bank then later AmSouth Bank as vice president, commercial and construction lending officer. In 1997 he joined Cornerstone Community Bank as vice president and commercial lending officer.
Among his civic activities, Bill is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ringgold, GA and served on the East Ridge Zoning Appeals Board and the East Ridge Education Committee. He is a past treasurer of the Signal Mountain Lions Club, past officer of the Chattanooga Downtown Sertoma Club, past president of the East Ridge Sertoma Club and the East Ridge Kiwanis Club, former board member of the East Ridge Education Committee, and past board member of the East Ridge and East Hamilton County Chambers of Commerce. A 2001 graduate of Leadership Catoosa, he has worked as a volunteer for Habitat for Hamanity, Friends of the Park, Junior Achievement of Chattanooga, Bethel Bible Village, The Salvation Army, Kid’s Place-Warner Park, the Good Neighbor Prohgram, and served as a student mentor at West Side Elementary in conjunction with Partnership 2000.
He was an avid photographer and received his pilot’s license.
He was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church for 22 years where he taught the Young Married SS class; former member, SS Teacher, TV/technical director, and finance committee member of Anchor of Hope Baptist; media team at Oakwood Baptist and was presently attending Peavine Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Marie Jones; brother, Rev. Richard Jones Jr; cousin, Peggy Jones; and sister in law, Brenda Bullard.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Glenda Jones; son, Bill Jones Jr. and his fiancé, Kendra DeBerry; granddaughter, Gilleyanne Claire Jones; brother, Lamar (Donna) Jones, all of Chickamauga; sister, Pat Wooten; sister in law, Bobbie Jones, both of Chattanooga; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 13th at 11 am in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Eric Watts, Chad Frank, Chris Wooten, Tony Riddle, Doug Short, David Frank, and Wendell Roden. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Bonine, Mike Cloud, Jeff Coe, Kenny Bare, Greg Riddle, Calvin Allmon, Wayne Pennington, and members of the Kiwanis Club of Ringgold, GA.
You may share condolences to the family and view the service on live stream at www.heritagechattanooga.com
Memorial contributions may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 Eighteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20006-3517; or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 2-8 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.
Click HERE to view the livestream