CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Chesterfield man known for his generosity and a foundation that provided hundreds of area children with Christmas presents every year has died at the age of 72.
William "Bill" Jones died from natural causes on Sunday, October 16, three days before his 73 birthday.
CBS 6 first profiled Jones in a “Heroes Among Us” feature in November of 2014.
Jones founded William's Christmas Kids Foundation in 1985 to help provide Christmas presents to underprivileged children.
"I’m not a kid, but I look forward to Christmas every year," Jones said in a 2014 interview. "It is one of the biggest joys in my life."
Jones said he opened his heart and wallet to strangers because he didn’t have family of his own.
He lost his fiancé, Wanda and their unborn child, Christina Maria, in a car crash 50 years ago.
Jones spent about $10,000 of his own savings every year to make sure children woke up Christmas morning with a smile on their face.
Money is nothing but a piece of paper," he said. "You see a lot of happiness right there in their faces. And a lot of joy."
Jones was also known for throwing Christmas parties at VCU Medical Center for critically ill children. His goal was to make a lasting impact on their lives and to ensure that every child had Christmas.
The Vietnam veteran worked as a warehouse manager for Lee Moving and Storage Company for over 30 years, and was currently employed with Tanner Van Lines.
Jones was survived by his two special friends, Pamela L. Avery and Diane H. Price, and their families; all the children and lives he touched throughout the years.
A visitation for Jones will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20 at the Chester Chapel at J. T. Morriss and Son Funeral Home.
Condolences may be registered here.
