William Philip Jones

The Reverend William Philip Jones, 72, formerly of Wyomissing, died April 24,2013, in Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, PA.

Born February 9, 1941 in Hinsdale, Ill., he was the son of the late Philip E. and Frances C. Jones of Wyomissing. He attended Sacred Heart School, West Reading, PA, Reading Central Catholic High School, Reading, PA, and graduated in 1958 from Wyomissing High School, Wyomissing, PA.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., in 1962. He attended Hahnemann Medical School, Philadelphia (1962); St Philip Neri School for Vocations, Haverhill, Mass. (1963); and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Philadelphia (1964-1969).

Father Jones was ordained to the Priesthood on May 24, 1969, at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena, Allentown, by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph M. McShea, D.D., Bishop of Allentown. He celebrated his first Mass the following day at Sacred Heart Church, West Reading.

He served as a Professor at Reading Central Catholic High School (1969-71); Assistant Pastor at the following churches: St. Peter, Coplay (1971-1972); St. Patrick, Pottsville (1972-1974 and 1975-1980); St. Canicus, Mahanoy City (1974-1975); St. Bernard, Easton (1980-1981); SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton (1981-1982); Sacred Heart, Miller Heights (1982-1985); and Notre Dame of Bethlehem (1985-88). He retired to Holy Family Villa for Priests and then to Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, PA.

Father Jones served as Chaplain to the School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis (OSF) of Monocacy Manor. During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Father Jones held the following Auxiliary Diocesan Assignments: Director, Lehigh Valley Catholic Physicians Guild; Diocesan Moderator of Hospitals, and Chaplain for Catholic Scouting, Carbon County.

Joined by his fellow priests, he commemorated his 25 years as a priest on May 7, 1994, with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Immaculate Conception BVM, Allentown. He will mark his forty-fourth year as a priest on May 24, 2013.

Surviving are two sisters: Margaret (Jones) Barrett of Ft. Washington, PA, and Maryellen (Jones) Mills, wife of Richard W. Mills, of Bucktown; one niece, Sarah (Barrett) Pinto, wife of Jakov Pinto, of Elkins Park; two great-nephews Shachar and Yishai Pinto, and one great- niece, Zohar Pinto.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend John O. Barres, D.D., S.T.D., on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, West Reading, PA. A visitation for family and friends will be held in the church at 10:00 a.m. one hour prior to Mass. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Muhlenberg Township, PA. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading, PA, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Sacred Heart Hospice, 2268 S. 12th Street, Allentown, PA 18103 or Sacred Heart Parochial School, 701 Franklin St., West Reading, PA 19611. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.