William Jones Obituary

William E. 'Bill' Jones, entrepreneur and philanthropist, passed away April 5, 2023. Born October 5, 1937 in Joplin, Missouri, Jones owned and operated Enterprise Steel from 1970 to 2003. Bill Jones operated his steel fabrication offices and plant, that he built, on Limonite Avenue in Pedley. In addition to constructing his own offices and work yard, he ram-rodded the construction of several homes in Indian Hills and Pedley, which soon housed members of his family. Bill enjoyed life at his custom home built atop the hills in Indian Hills, Jurupa Valley, overlooking the Indian Hills Golf Club and his offices to the south. Bill himself came from a very large family, he was one of 12 children. Bill came to California as a member of the U. S. Air Force. After a stint in Korea, he was assigned to March Air Force Base, and after discharge in 1964, made the Inland Empire his home, first working as a fireman for the City of Riverside Fire Department and then in the drapery business. Not long thereafter, Jones got into the steel fabrication and placement business employing 40 people and providing steel rebar to developers of homes from San Diego to San Francisco and back. Bill was married to Noralee for more than 20 years; later married Sue Clark and then Andrea (RIP). Bill raised four sons: Ralph, Lee, Boyd and Brian. All of the sons were raised at the "yard" learning Bill's business from the ground up. Supporting a family and managing a business wasn't enough for Bill who quickly joined up in the Riverside Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10267, Jurupa. Bill was the soul of the VFW on Mission Boulevard in Glen Avon in its beginning, personally providing the funds to keep it up and running for its first decade of operation. Bill didn't brag about his help to his family, to veterans, to the community or to the VFW. He provided jobs and housing to veterans in the Jurupa communities earning him a plaque on the VFW's Hall of Fame. When Bill wasn't offering guidance to the veterans, he could be found at Rubidoux High School basketball games cheering on his son, Brian. Bill loved to travel, often on cruises. Bill and a friend made it to more than 10 Super Bowl games consecutively, somehow always able to obtain very hard to come by tickets. Bill enjoyed his friends at the VFW, often over a glass of Crown Royal, and later frequented Carrows on Limonite Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard where he accumulated more friends. Bill is survived by his two sons: Brian (Lily) and Boyd; a daughter-in-law, Diane; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sons, Ralph and Lee. Rubidoux Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Viewing is Friday, April 28 from 10 a. m. to noon at Kimberly Chapel at the Mortuary, 6091 Mission Boulevard, Rubidoux. (951) 683-2215 Graveside Services are at 1:30 p. m. Friday, April 28 at Olivewood Memorial Park, 3300 Central Avenue, Riverside. (951-683-6611 A Celebration of Life for Bill immediately follows graveside services at VFW Post 10267, Jurupa, 8607 Mission Boulevard, Glen Avon. (951-681-0267. Published by The Press-Enterprise on Apr. 18, 2023. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of William E. (Bill) Jones, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.