M. William Jones

M. William Jones, of Lancaster, died on Tuesday, October 7, 2024. He was 96 years old. Bill was the son of the late Myron W. and Marie H. Jones. He was married to the former Elizabeth Atlee Schroeder for 31 years. A previous marriage ended in divorce. In addition to his beloved Liz, he is survived by three children: Carol, married to John (Jay) Pendergrass and living in Silver Spring MD, M. William III, who is married to the former Maureen Coleman and lives in Phoenixville, and stepson, Fritz Schroeder, Jr., who is married to the former Mary Smucker, and lives in Millersville. He is also survived by six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, one step-grandson and one cousin. Bill was preceded in death by his son Philip “Brad” Bradford Jones, who passed in 2018. Bill was born in Lancaster, attended Lancaster Township schools and graduated from McCaskey High School in 1945. He entered the University of Pennsylvania after high school graduation, was drafted into the Army in March of 1946 and served a year and a half, most of that time with the 2nd Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Washington. Following his discharge, he returned to Penn and, in 1950, graduated from Penn’s Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. At Penn, he was president of Sigma Chi Fraternity and lettered in Track and Field. Following his graduation from Penn, Bill joined the former Armstrong Cork Company as a Floor Division Sales Trainee. He held several sales and sales management positions while in the Floor Division and lived in Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Glen Cove L.I. NY, Irvington NY, Windsor CT, Pittsburgh PA and Ridgewood NJ. He returned to Lancaster in 1980 to assume the position of Assistant to the President and retired in 1994, having served nearly 44 years with Armstrong. Bill valued his Lancaster heritage and was active in the community and was a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church. Bill enjoyed playing golf with Liz and his friends and was a former member of the Lancaster Country Club and Meadia Heights Golf Club, where he served on the Board of Directors. He enjoyed reading about American History and researching his ancestors. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bill’s Funeral Service at St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke Street, Lancaster PA 17603 on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Glenn Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held at St. James Memorial Garden following the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to St. James Episcopal Church, 118 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, or the Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602. The family wishes to thank Willow Valley for their wonderful care of Bill and encourage a donation to the Brunner Nurse Education Fund, Attn: North Bookkeeper, 600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA 17602.