Wilmer Edward (Bill) Jones, 96, of Panama City, passed away on May 13, 2019.

He was born on April 2, 1923 in the small village of Patsburg, Alabama that did not receive electricity until 1936 during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Prior to electricity the family would use a kerosene lamp at night or early in the morning to start the day. When the War came in 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Aviation Cadet program and was about to be deployed as a navigator and fighter pilot for the first radar interceptor P-61, which was auspiciously named the Widow Maker, when the Great War ended.

It was during his training program in West Palm Beach that he met the love of his life, his wife, Beverly Hale Jones. He attributed his success in life to his lifelong companion who passed away in 2005.

He never talked about his combat action he participated in during the Korean and Vietnam War. He was one of many pilots our ground troops would call "Angles with Wings."

He had a long career in the United States Airforce as a Commanding Office as well as a pilot qualifying in several aircraft to include P-61, F-82, F-94, F-89, B-17, B-24, B-29, etc., and many civil aircraft. He was also a FAA Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor.

After serving for 31 years in the Air Force he continued the faithfully serve his community as a City Commissioner for the City of Parker.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Hale Jones; brother, Carl Jones; sister, Nellie Grace Fowler; and eldest daughter, Sharron Hale Jones. He is survived by his brother, Malcom Jones; four children, Patricia Ferguson (Blake); Deborah Van Etten (Stan); Gregory Jones (Diana); and Charles Jones; and enough grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren to establish a small city.

He was a Patriot and valued a fair deal over getting the better of someone. He will be remembered and missed by all those fortunate enough to have known him. He was a Master Freemason for most of his life serving at Parker Lodge #142 for 36 of those 72 years.

Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 11 a.m. in the Parker Masonic Lodge #142, 4802 East Business Highway 98, Parker, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be made to the Parker Masonic Lodge # 142 in memory of Lt. Col. Wilmer Edward Jones.