William Charles Jones passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and five children on September 20, 2022. Bill was born on May 18, 1941, in Joplin, Missouri to Mary (nee Gouvion) and Joseph Jones. After graduating from McAuley Catholic High School in 1959, he attended Joplin Jr. College and Pittsburg State in Kansas before moving to Chicago to attend Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine. After his shift at Bethesda General Hospital, he would give a ride to a group of Filipino nurses just so he could talk to Librada. She agreed to go on a date and three months later on June 20, 1966, they married at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago.
After finishing his education, they moved to Tulsa where Bill practiced podiatry with his childhood friend, Dr. Fred Blosser. In 1970, Bill opened his own practice in Claremore where he cared for his patients until retiring in 2017. Bill served on several boards and was president of The Oklahoma Board of Podiatry and the Filipino American Association of Oklahoma.
Bill's proudest moments were those when he was surrounded by family and friends, the noisier the better. Dinners cooked by Lit at their home for holidays and birthdays were his favorite; there wasn't a restaurant in town that cooked salmon better than his wife. Bill was proud to talk about his children: Theresa who attended Boston College, Scott who toured with his band, Laura who taught at St. Mary's, Mary with whom he worked side by side for 13 years, and Margo who shared his love of golf. He was a Bass Master fisherman, golfer, tennis player, and loved to challenge his grandchildren to a game of checkers. He loved traveling the world with his wife, family, and friends visiting historical sites and golfing.
Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years Librada; his children Theresa (Chris) Vyhnal, Scott Jones, Laura (Kevin) Duffy, Mary (Carter) Johnson, and Margo (Tommy) Griffin; 17 grandchildren Nolan, Meg, Katie, & Jack Vyhnal; Mallory Ainesworth, Jameson & Isaac Jones; Sarah & Elise Duffy; Amelia, Will, & Norah Johnson; Anna, Ryan, Martha, Juliet, & Mae Griffin; and one great-granddaughter Everly; his sisters Mary Louise Schwartz, Velma Carson, and Jean Ann Conboy; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Mary & Joseph Jones and his brothers Jim and John Jones.
Visitation will be at Fitzgerald Southwood Chapel from 5:00-7:00 followed by the rosary at 7 pm. Funeral Mass will be Monday at 10:00 am at St. Bernard Catholic Church with a reception at the church to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made in Bill's name to Bishop Kelley High School's endowment for tuition assistance.


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