William “Judd” Jones

(October 29, 1932 – July 3, 2024)

Judd Jones passed away peacefully on July 3, 2024, at his home in Frisco, Texas, enveloped in love by family, friends, and caregivers, both near and far.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Judd was the embodiment of love. His patience, kindness, and unwavering support for others mirrored the virtues described in this passage. He touched the lives of many with his selfless love and will be dearly missed. He never met a stranger, and everyone he met over his 91 years fell in love with him instantly due to his easy charm, charismatic smile, and his warm, kind, and graceful heart.

Judd was born in Cooper, Texas on October 29, 1932, to William “Alton” Jones and Melba Foster Jones. He graduated from Cooper High School in 1951, where he was a star athlete and voted “Best Boy.” He went on to attend East Texas State University, (Texas A&M Commerce) in Commerce, Texas where he was a member of Tejas Club/Sigma Phi Epsilon, and he strengthened existing friendships and developed new ones, many that would be lifelong. Judd graduated from college in 1955 with a degree in industrial engineering and joined the U.S. Air Force where he became a pilot flying F86 and F102 jets. From time to time, he was known to fly over and buzz Cooper’s town square to say hello to those he loved.

Following his service in the Air Force, he joined Texas Instruments where he worked in Human Resources for 33 years. Judd had a sense of adventure and exploration which was a catalyst for his decision to move with his family to Plymouth, England, for three wonderful and memorable years. While there, he helped open a new Texas Instruments site and extend his charm and friendships across borders. While he had a long and full career with Texas Instruments, Judd was not one for retirement and sitting idle, so after leaving, he later joined his son, Jeff Jones, at his company, J.F. Jones Commercial. Judd’s career “second act” is where he found his true calling, and he worked alongside his oldest son, Jeff, until the age of 80.

Although Judd was successful professionally, what mattered most to him was family, and to him, family went beyond being directly related. He knew how to connect with people, and his deep friendships were also family. His own family started when he married Marea Vetter in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on November 21, 1959, after a courtship that began when they left a party where they met to run to the store for a watermelon but resulted in a two-hour detour to the local diner. Marea and Judd were married for 54 years, and their proudest accomplishment was the family they built together.

Judd was preceded in death by his wife Marea Vetter Jones, his father, William “Alton” Jones, his mother Melba Foster Jones, and his sister Kerry Jones Smith Overton. He is survived by his daughter Andrea Jones of St. Louis, Missouri, and her three children Kilby, Stratton, and Reese; his son Jeff Jones of Frisco, Texas, and his wife Wendy, and their two sons Foster, and Judson; his daughter Jennifer Jones of Austin, Texas, and her partner Anthony “Tony” Gioia; his son Wade Jones of Dallas, Texas, and his wife Tiffany, and their two daughters Kate and Caroline. He had one great-granddaughter, a nephew, four nieces, and many extended family members.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Delta Funeral Home, located at 451 SW 1st Street, Cooper, Texas 75432. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tejas Club/Sig Ep Endowment at the following address:

Texas A&M University-Commerce Foundation
Tejas Club/Sig Ep Endowment
P.O. Box 3425
Commerce, Texas 75429-3425​