Mr. Walter W. “Bill” Jones

Liberty, SC

 Mr. Walter William (Bill) Jones, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. He was 82.

Born June 19, 1943, Bill lived on Morgan’s Branch Road in Candler, North Carolina, with his parents, Walter and Elizabeth Jones, and his sister, Linda. He grew up gardening, milking cows, working mules, driving tractors, and riding bikes–and, on occasion, a car hood–down Mount Pisgah. When he was in the third grade, Glady Elementary School and Stoney Fork Elementary School merged, and he met his future best friend and the love of his life–Barbara Jo Davis. He finally asked her out on a date, years later, after they graduated from Enka High School; they married January 18, 1963, at Oak Hill United Methodist Church in Candler, North Carolina.

Bill chose to follow Christ around the age of 12 or maybe 13, when a visiting evangelist from Freeport, Texas, extended revival services for a full two weeks at White Rock Baptist Church. Bill was saved and baptized in the creek next to Pisgah School on a Sunday afternoon. He spent the rest of his life sharing his commitment to Christ and encouraging others to do the same. He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years.

Bill was a 1961 graduate of Enka High School. Two days after graduation, he and a friend moved to Washington, D.C., where they worked at the Western Electric Plant for almost a year. Bill then returned to North Carolina and began a 43-year career in the manufacturing industry when he was hired by American Enka. He worked at plants in both Enka, North Carolina, and in Central, South Carolina. When American Enka was sold to BASF in 1985, he was hired by BASF and led the conversion team. He enjoyed his job as Human Resources Manager until retirement in 2004. BASF was then sold to Honeywell, and Bill contracted and worked for Honeywell until he had a stroke in 2005. He and Barbara moved several times during his career; they lived in Candler, North Carolina; Liberty, South Carolina; Fletcher, North Carolina; and then, finally, they returned to Liberty and built their forever home in 1978.

Working during the day and attending school in the evenings, Bill earned college credits at Western North Carolina University in Cullowhee; after he and Barbara moved to South Carolina, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Tri-County Technical College in 1974 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Wesleyan University (now Southern Wesleyan) in 1989.

Throughout his life, Bill was many things. He was a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He was a Sunday School teacher, a cowboy, a craftsman, an athlete, and a writer. He was a businessman, a praying man, a poet, a Little League coach, a farmer, and a friend. He was an encourager and a man who lived with a blessed hope, despite a stroke that left him struggling for 21 years.

Bill loved many things. He loved a fast car–especially a ‘57 Chevy. He loved donuts in the snow, and Jeeps. He loved good molasses, babies, westerns, and fishing. He loved Commodore 64s, black stallions, and dogs named Butch. He loved motorcycles, banana pudding, nice clothes, and fresh apple cake. He loved lemon pie, sawdust, corny jokes, and round TUITs. He loved a King James Bible, music, dinner with friends, and a good card game. He loved checkers, Braves baseball, Tarheel basketball, and any sport his grandchildren played. And hats. He loved hats. He also loved his friends, his grandchildren, his children, and Barbara.

Most importantly, Bill loved God, and he lived his life trying to honor his Savior. He once wrote, “If I had to describe my life, I would say that it has been a wonderful journey and one that has certainly been worth the trip.”

Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Barbara Jo Davis Jones; they were blessed to celebrate 62 years of marriage in January of 2025. In addition, he is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Marion and Tracy Lawson, Tony and April Jones; James and Tara Lawson, Chandler and Emily Moats, Tucker and Mary Jones, Samuel and Rebecca Lawson, Tyler Jones; Noah Lawson, Judah Lawson, and Lawson Moats. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter William and Elizabeth Clontz Jones; his sisters, Kay Frances Jones and Linda Jones Stockton; and his great-granddaughter, Hope Elizabeth Moats.

Bill’s family would like to thank everyone who cared for him and everyone who has been so gracious and kind as Bill took his final journey to his heavenly home. It wasn’t in a fast car or on a black stallion, but it was sure to have been a good ride.

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, November 24, from 10:30 AM until 11:30 AM at Rock Springs Baptist Church, followed by a memorial service at 12:00 noon. Members of the Seekers Bible Fellowship class are invited to sit together in reserved seating. A graveside service and burial will follow in the cemetery at Rock Springs. Rock Springs Baptist Church is located at 201 Rock Springs Road in Easley, South Carolina. Flowers are welcome, but donations to Rock Springs Baptist Church are preferred.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.libertymortuary.com    Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

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