William Dudley Jones, 86

45-year Resident of Belle Mead

May 7, 1932 - February 13, 2019

Lieutenant Colonel William Dudley Jones died on February 13. He was 86.

Bill was a 45-year resident of Belle Mead. He volunteered often in his community, serving on the Montgomery Township Board of Health, School Board Management Review Committee, and Citizen’s Advisory Board. Bill was an Eagle Scott and continued his lifelong support of this program as an Eagle Scout Advisor for Boy Scout Troop 46.

Known for his extraordinary kindness and for telling wonderful stories, Bill loved his wife, children, and grandchildren above all things. He was a proud West Point graduate who served and gave unselfishly to his country, his family, God, his friends, and community.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents Newton Wesley Jones and Elizabeth Dudley Jones.

Born May 7, 1932 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Bill graduated from high school in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the US Military Academy at West Point in 1953, and Princeton University with a master’s in civil engineering in 1958. He served 20 years active duty in the US Army with service in Korea, Europe, Southeast Asia, and various locations in the continental US. He served in the Corp of Engineers and later in the Medical Service Corp. Bill received numerous military awards including Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Korea Service Medal, UN Service Medal, National Defense Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, and Ranger TAB.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Dawn Zarker Jones; daughter Jennie Dawn Jones Hanson (Jeff Hanson) of Nashville, TN; son Wesley Zarker Jones (Kim Durham) of Chesapeake, VA; and four “grand” grandchildren: Connor Wesley Jones, Christian William Hanson, Taylor Carolyn Jones, and Sara Dawn Hanson.

Retiring from active military service in 1973, Bill continued his service to others with a 20-year civilian healthcare administration career at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, as director of facilities and then as vice president of support services. He was a fellow of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and American Society of Healthcare Engineers. He also served as president of the Healthcare Engineers of NJ, spoke nationally on leadership and was an instructor for the Goldfarb Institute.

He and his wife were avid travelers, enjoying trips to Russia, Kenya, and Churchill Canada, and taking their family on many wonderful family reunions.

A deeply religious man with a generous heart, Bill was a professed life member of the Third Order of Society of Saint Francis. He was Episcopalian, a past associate member of the Montgomery United Methodist Church, and most recently attended the Princeton United Methodist Church. He loved his church, gave generously to charity, and was grateful for and blessed by family and friends.

Funeral Services were held February 19 at the Princeton United Methodist Church, followed by interment at the Rocky Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Princeton United Methodist Church or the US Military Academy at West Point. ■