Obituary of William Edward Jayne
William Edward Jayne Jr., age 93, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2020, at his home in New Bern, NC. Also known as Bill or “Bunker”, was born and raised in Irvington, NJ. As WWII broke out, Bill immediately enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and was assigned to the South Pacific aboard the LST399 traveling to the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam and D-Day at the Battle of Iwo Jima. This past February 27th through March 1st, Bill and 27 family members attended the 75th Reunion of the Battle of Iwo Jima held in Washington, DC and Quantico Virginia.
After returning home from the war, Bill started Jayne’s Motor Freight with his brother and one truck. He then married Virginia Sprague and began raising a family. In 1956, Bill moved his young family to Warren, NJ. In 1965 to expand his business opportunities he purchased Hall’s Fast Motor Freight, Inc., a small trucking company in South Plainfield, NJ consisting of 12 trucks. One year later he founded Hall’s Warehouse Corp. and several years later Hall’s Logistics Corp., a freight brokerage company. Under his guidance, the companies continued to grow and thrive into the large companies they are today.
Bill served as New Jersey Motor Truck president from 1974-1976. Under his leadership NJMTA established the Construction Carriers Conference, Private Carriers Conference, Towing Conference and NJMTA Public Education Committee (PEC) to strengthen relations with state legislators. He received the NJMTA Man of the Year Award in 1981. During his presidency he was a prolific writer of position papers, letters to the legislators, magazine articles and pushed to have the sales tax eliminated on the purchase of transportation equipment. He served as Vice President at Large Emeritus for the American Trucking Associations for many years.
In 1977 he moved to Long Valley, NJ. He began to acquire farmland near his home and was a founder of Jayne Valley Farms. Utilizing the farm in the 1980’s, he was involved with Thoroughbred and Standardbred horseracing.
After retirement, he enjoyed spending time at his home in New Bern, NC of 30 years, his summer home at the Jersey Shore, and a residence in Florida where he loved to play golf.
He especially enjoyed boating and cruising on his beloved “Lady Jayne” a 1967 Chris Craft Commander that’s been in the family for over 50 years. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.
Among many of his philanthropic endeavors, Bill was a Mason and a Shriner for over 70 years.
Bill was predeceased by his wife Virginia Jayne in 1989.
Survived by his children William E. Jayne, III and his wife Dianne, Bruce Jayne, Virginia Eitner and her husband Donald and Dale Jayne and Pauline Jayne; 9 grandchildren Wesley Jayne, Kyle Jayne, Jayme Limbaugh, Jesse Eitner, Jarrett Eitner, Jaclyn Stack, Taylor Jayne, Sarah Jayne and William E. Jayne IV; 7 great-grandchildren with one on the way. He is survived by his sister Shirley Alino.
All services are private. Interment is at Fairmount Cemetery, Fairmount, NJ. A memorial will be held at a future date. If you would like to make a donation in the memory of Bill Jayne, please forward to: The Virginia Jayne Cancer and Rehab Center 4913 Bridges Street Ext. Bldg. B Suite 102 Morehead City, NC 28557