Willis White “Bill” Jones -- Social Studies Teacher

 

Willis White "Bill" Jones

Willis White “Bill’ Jones was born on May 11, 1921 in Canton, Kentucky in the old Canton Hotel, the third generation of his family to be born in the old hotel.  He was the only child of Leonard Adolphus “Dink” Jones and Helen Futrell Jones. Dink was a native of Trigg County, Kentucky and had worked as a construction worker and grocery salesman.  Helen was also a native of Trigg County, and was the daughter of Joseph Lane Futrell and Nancy Elizabeth Thomas.  Nancy was a granddaughter of Perry Thomas.

Bill lived in Canton and attended Trigg County Schools, graduating from Trigg County High School.  In 1941, he moved to St. Charles, Missouri where he worked for Wellston Springs Ordinance Plant, which manufactured war materials to be used in World War II.  Bill was later transferred to the Holston Valley Ordinance Works in Kingsport, Tennessee. Bill was subsequently inducted into the U.S. Army and received his basic training at Camp Barkley, Texas. After receiving advanced training at Camp Carson, Colorado, he was sent to the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific. Because of the hot and humid climate of the islands, many soldiers incurred incurable fungus and deteriorating diseases.  Bill was given an honorable medical discharge from the military in 1946.

On July 5, 1941 in St. Charles, Missouri, Bill married Mildred Helen Stewart of Gracey, Kentucky.  Mildred was born on February 23, 1922, the daughter of James Backus Stewart and Lois Piercy Stewart. When Bill was in the service overseas, Mildred lived with her parents and taught school in Gracey.

After Bill was discharged from the military, he and Mildred moved to Cadiz in 1947.  Bill went back and graduated from Murray State University.  Bill and Mildred opened operated a florist shop in Cadiz called Mildred’s Florist. After they sold the florist shop several years later, the name of the business remains Mildred’s Florist even today. Mildred taught school for five years in Cadiz after moving from Gracey and then went to Ft. Campbell where she taught school for 32 years until she retired in 1984.  Bill became a social studies teacher and taught history at Trigg County High School.

Bill and Mildred became the parents of their only child, a daughter, Shawn Hiler Jones, born in 1954.

Bill was involved in many civic responsibilities as a citizen of Cadiz and Trigg County including the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Cadiz Masonic Lodge, the Cadiz Shrine Club and a number of other organizations.  As a well respected high school teacher he was selected “Teacher of the Month” and “Teacher of the Year” on several occasions.

On March 13, 1983 Bill died at his home in Cadiz of a massive heart attack.  He was 61 years old.  Unbeknown to him, the high school annual had been dedicated to him in the year he died.  Bill was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Mildred died in Hopkinsville on December 26, 1998 at the age of 76.  She was buried in East End Cemetery next to her husband.

 Bill and Mildred Jones

 

Tombstone of Bill and Mildred Jones

 

Military Tombstone of Bill Jones

LINEAGE:  (Willis White “Bill” Jones was the son of Leonard Adolphus and Helen Futrell Jones. Helen was the daughter of Joseph Lane and Nancy Elizabeth Thomas Futrell.  Nancy was the third child of Rufus King and Alvie Adeline Dunn Thomas.  Rufus was the fifth child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)