Mr. William J. "Bill" Jones Jr., age 87, of Mahanoy City, died Wednesday morning at his home.  Born in Mahanoy City he was the son of the late William and Beatrice (Baraskus) Jones Sr.  He was a 1946 graduate of Mahanoy Township High School. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Army.  Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill he attended and graduated in 1952 from East Stroudsburg State Teacher's College with a BS Degree in Health, Physical Education and Science.
He began his teaching career with the Spring Grove Joint School in York County where he served as Assistant Coach in Soccer, track, and football and head coach in Junior High Basketball. He was also a P.I.A.A. soccer official and cubmaster.  Returning to his alma matter Mahanoy Township to accept a teaching psoition he retired from the Mahanoy Area School District after 42 years of service.  While at Mahanoy Area he taught elementary physical education and high school health.  During his tenure with both the district and the township he caoched football, basketball, wrestling and track and field.  He also served as a bus driver, assistant athletic director and recreation director.  As recreation director he instituted, supervised, and facilitated many programs including boy's intramural basketball, elementary wrestling, women's volleyball, roller skating trips, Teen Canteen activities, playground recreation and Summer camp at Lakewood Park.  He was a member of St. Paul's UCC, Good American Fire Company, American Legion, VFW, BPOE 695, TPA, PASR and Norhtern Anthracite Hall of Fame.
At the Mahanoy Area HS graduation of 2011 he was awarded outstanding Alumni Award. He also received the James J. Rhoades Track & Field Games for Kids Award and was in the Mahanoy Area Hall of Fame for wrestling. Survivors include his wife of 53 years the former Betty McLaughlin, 3 daughters Lisa Marencin and her husband Gary of Hockessin, DE, Sandra Molnar and her husband Bill of Alburtis, and Lynn Minalda and her husband John Jr. of Ringtown, grandchildren Brendan & Kyle Marencin, Aubrey Molnar and Ian & Trevor Minalda, and sister in law and brother in law Henry & Marie McCabe of Mahanoy City, cousins John, Edward & William Slezosky. nieces and nephews.  Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM from David D. Jarrett Funeral Home of Mahanoy City.  Further services will be held at 11 AM at St. Paul's UCC.  Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery in  Mahanoy Township.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM and again at the funeral home on Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers and to establish an educational scholarship in Bill's name contributions can be made to the Schuylkill Community Foundation or the St. Paul's UCC Endowment Fund.. Please visit www.jarrettfuneralhome.com for more information.