Lieutenant Colonel Paul R. Jones

Lieutenant Colonel Paul R. Jones passed away in his home on May 31st, 2020, in Fairhope, Alabama from complications relating to his military service-connected disabilities. Randy was born on January 8th, 1947, in Nashville, Tennessee. Randy graduated from Two Rivers Senior High School, and after a year in college, enlisted in the Army, where he became an Infantryman, in 1967. Randy’s first enlistment stationed him in Germany. Randy then went back to college in his home state attending the University of Tennessee and becoming an ROTC Cadet. Majoring in Graphic Design, Randy did become a professional artist, but as an avocation. Randy received his Commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1971, and again, was back in the Infantry. After receiving Airborne Jump Wings and the coveted Ranger Tab, Randy was deployed to South East Asia during the Vietnam War in 1974. After returning, Randy attended the Infantry Officer’s Command Course at Fort Benning Georgia, where he met his wife, Dianne Lewis, who was working as an administrator at the school. They were married in 1977, in Mobile, Alabama. Randy continued his career in the Army filling many assignments, including Company Command at Fort Jackson, SC; 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens, Mass; 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, CA; Cadet Command, Fort Monroe, VA and CASCOM, Fort Lee, VA, where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993. Randy was then hired by LOGICON which provided Senior Military Staff Training to ground combat commanders in the U.S. Military. Following the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, Randy volunteered to return to Active Duty. He was shortly processed back in, again as Lieutenant Colonel, and was assigned immediately to U.S. Central Command, Tampa, FL. Randy deployed multiple times to Qatar, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Randy’s awards include the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, U.S. Army Airborne Wings, Ranger Qualification Tab, Thai Jump Wings, Meritorious Service Medal, South East Asia Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, among many others. Randy was an accomplished artist, having many of his original oil paintings displayed in the Pentagon, and was a member of the Air Force Art Program, and the Association of Aviation Artist. Randy was a passionate military aviation enthusiast, and through his art, and Active Military Status, was able to fly in the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Viper, B-52 BUFF, and the English Royal Air Force’s Tornado. Randy served the United States of America for more than 33 years, and as a result was severely disabled from his military service. Our beloved father Randy is survived by his wife Dianne Jones; sons, Colonel Ryan Jones, U.S. Air Force, and Chief Warrant Officer Four Murray Jones, U.S. Army, and their wives and children. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO RD FAIRHOPE, AL 36532 (251) 990-7775