A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 5-7 pm at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, 3110 Airport Road, Temple, TX. A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 11:00 am at Foundation Church, 107551 West Adams Avenue, Temple, TX. A private burial will take place prior to the funeral service.
Bill grew up in Elk Grove Village, IL, and attended Drake University as a music education major before enlisting in the United States Army. He moved his family to Texas in 1976, when their family-owned business, Material Transportation Company (MTC), relocated from Illinois to Temple, Texas. Bill enjoyed a 50+ year career in manufacturing, operating many different industries involving steel fabrication. He was currently the owner of Electric Grilling Technologies, LLC in Temple.
Being a life-long learner and teacher, he received his BBA from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1993 and an MBA from the University of Texas in 1995. Up until his cancer diagnosis in April 2023, he was enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He had earned enough credits to graduate in December 2023 with a Masters Degree in Christian Ministry and it was one of his proudest moments. During the time he studied at Truett, Bill was given the honor of serving the Pidcoke community as Pastor of Pidcoke Methodist Church from July 2021 to April 2023.
Bill’s entire adult life was committed to service – to his Lord, his community, and his family. His love of community led him to serve as Mayor of Temple from 2002 – 2013 and he loved every minute of his service to the citizens of Temple. He was also very involved in the Texas Association of Business, Temple Chamber of Commerce and Texas High Speed Rail. He was a founding member of the Temple South Rotary Club in 1984, where he proudly chaired the Flag Program for many years. Because of his love for education, Bill served as President of the Temple Education Foundation for 5 years and was a member of the Temple College Board of Trustees. His life-long love of music led Bill to the Temple Symphony Orchestra, where he served as president for 8 years. Bill’s love for sharing the “Good News” led him to serve as the President of Killeen Christian Broadcasting and KPLE-TV. He sincerely believed in the quote attributed to John Wesley – “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
Bill is survived by his wife Clydette Jones of Temple; his children, Gayle Rudman of Oak Park, IL, Christa Sarmiento and husband Josh Jameson of Little River, TX; Clydette’s children, Jason Entzminger and wife Sarah of San Angelo, TX, and Ginger Davis and husband Tommy of Morgan’s Point Resort, TX. Together, Bill and Clydette are blessed with 6 grandchildren, Bryce Davis, Braxton Davis, Riley Kay Entzminger, Ryleigh Sarmiento, Benjamin Rudman, and Simon Rudman. Bill is also survived by his brothers Robert Jones and wife Chrystal of Aurora, S.D., Dudley Jones and wife Loraine of Gatesville, TX, and Chris Flink and wife Cindy of Streamwood, IL, and sisters Ada Andrist and husband Larry of Bartlett, IL and Diane O’Brien and husband Tom of Maple Grove, MN. He is also survived by April Cousins, mother of Gayle and Christa.
He is preceded in death by his parents William Jr. and Helen Jones and a brother Fred Jones.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Temple Education Foundation or to the Temple South Rotary Club would be greatly appreciated.
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