William "Bill" Darrell Jones

William “Bill” Darrell Jones, 88, of Owensboro, went to be with the Lord on November 16, 2025. He was born on June 2, 1937, in Owensboro to the late Joseph Earl and Rena Baird Jones.

Bill graduated from Daviess County High School, where he served as quarterback on the school’s very first football team. He liked to tell people he once held every quarterback record, although he always added with a smile that they had since been broken many times over.

He went on to earn a degree in business administration from Kentucky Wesleyan College. While at a campus dance, Bill’s friends bet him he could not convince a fellow student, the lovely Gerry Faye Beard, to dance with him. Bill took the bet and won. That simple moment turned into a relationship that led to marriage, a family, and a lifetime of memories.

After college, Bill served 6 months of active duty in the U.S. Army. He then began a successful career in the life insurance business. He next earned his Realtor’s license, discovering work that truly energized him. As his real estate career grew, he also found a love for home building, which he began in 1971.

In 1978, Bill founded Century 21 Bill Jones Realtors. He also taught Management and Commercial Investment courses for Century 21 Real Estate of Indiana/Kentucky. He later started the Bill Jones Master Builder company and was a partner in the development of the residential communities of Lake Forest, The Brooks, Copper Creek, Brookhill Estates, and Country Side. He also built many homes in other communities such as Spring Bank, Forest Hills, Woodlands, Cedar Hills, and Deer Park Manor. He served as president of both the Owensboro Board of Realtors and the Home Builders Association of Owensboro. In 1983 he was recognized as Realtor of the Year by the Owensboro Board of Realtors. In 1994, he was honored as the Home Builders Association of Owensboro’s Builder of the Year. Bill had a deep passion for his profession and never hesitated to share his knowledge. He truly loved mentoring others and helping them cultivate their own success.

An early graduate of Leadership Owensboro, Bill then joined the education committee, carrying the torch further. He served on the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and played an instrumental role in bringing the Scott Paper Company to the community as chairman of the 110% Committee. He also served as president of the Owensboro Noon Rotary Club and served on the Board of the Wendell Foster Campus.

Bill also ventured into the restaurant business later in life, opening Legends Sports Bar & Grill. He created it with the same purpose that guided his work in real estate and home building: bringing people together. Legends quickly became a place where people felt welcome and at home.

Above all, Bill was a family man. He rarely missed anything his children were involved in, whether it was a cheerleading event, a play, or any moment that mattered. He was not just their dad but their biggest fan. That same dedication continued with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill loved their one-on-one time and never wanted to miss a milestone or moment, no matter how small. He supported them in all their pursuits and took great pride in each accomplishment.

Faith was an important part of Bill’s life. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. He was an avid fan of both UK and Kentucky Wesleyan College basketball and looked forward to his Friday morning breakfasts with friends at Cracker Barrel. Their group, affectionately called the “Bird Dog Club,” was known for spirited conversation and plenty of laughs.

Bill’s life was shaped by compassion, integrity, and a genuine devotion to the people and work he cared about. He gave his best to his family, his church, and his career, leaving a lasting impact on those who knew him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Sammy Jones and Donnie Jones, his sister-in-law, Diane Jones, and his brother-in-law, Jim Lambert.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 65 years, Gerry Faye Beard Jones; his children, Greg Jones and his wife Lisa, and Lori Jones Hayden and her husband Curtis; his grandchildren, Matthew “Moose” Morris and his wife Ivy, Mackenzie Morris, Jonathan Bell and his wife Katie, Will Jones, and Annie Jones; his great-grandchildren, Banks Morris and Winnie Drew Morris; his sister, Judy Lambert; and a large and loving extended family.

The funeral service for Bill Jones will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday and will continue after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Entombment will follow in Christ Chapel at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to First Baptist Church, 230 J. R. Miller Blvd, Owensboro, KY 42303, or Kentucky Wesleyan College, 3000 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301.