Joseph Paul Jones Sr.

Joseph Paul Jones, Sr. age 95, died on March 22, 2023 after a brief illness. He was born on August 17, 1927 in Mobile, Alabama, the sixth of seven children of Auzie J. Jones and Ollie Galloway Jones. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Lindsey Jones, who died on February 11, 2023 also at the age of 95, and by his first wife Juanita Rouse Jones and son Adrian Jay Jones, both of whom died in 1992. He attended Murphy High School in Mobile, graduated from Moss Point High School, Mississippi and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Mississippi in 1949 and his Master of Business Administration from The University of South Alabama in 1972.

Joe “Paul” met his first wife in high school, married in 1947, and had two sons, Joseph Paul Jones, Jr. (Alice) and Adrian Jay Jones, and three grandchildren, Jordan McMurphy Jones (Taylor), Catherine Jones McIntosh (Patrick), and Joseph Hunter Jones (Anne) and six great-grandchildren, Joseph Morrow Jones, Holland Catherine Jones, Alice Christian Jones, Peyton Stimpson Jones, Layne Elizabeth Jones, and William Patrick McIntosh. After his first wife’s death, he later married Joyce Lindsey Jones in 1998, who had three children, Becky Fairley (James), Daniel Lindsey, Jr. (Pam), and Mark Lindsey (Beth), grandchildren Kerr Fairley (Ellen), Lindsey Ehle (Douglas), Mark E. Lindsey, Forrest Lindsey, and Daniel F. Lindsey, Jr., and nine great-grandchildren.

He was a proud U.S. military veteran, having served in the Army during World War II in Germany in 1945-1947 with General Patton’s Third Army tank battalion in the Intelligence Unit. Like many families having children serving in the military during WWII, his parents proudly displayed flags in the front window of their home signifying having four sons serving in WWII overseas at the same time, and all of whom safely returned home to their loved ones after the war. He especially enjoyed the opportunity to join the Honor Flight in 2013 with other WWII vets visiting Washington, D.C. and the WWII memorial. Known as “Pops” to many of his family and friends, he and Joyce were able to enjoy almost twenty-five years of marriage living a healthy and full life of traveling the world, including WWII historical sites and locations where he served, and enjoying their family time and loving companionship with each other.

He took a great deal of pride in being one of the original charter members who organized the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church, and in being the last surviving founding member of that church. He was a dedicated member of his church and served in many capacities with his Christian faith always guiding and directing his life’s work and activities. He was also the founder of the Spanish Fort volunteer fire department, among other civic-related duties.

His career and experiences spanned many positions, including a period teaching at night at the University of South Alabama, and he retired from Scott Paper Company in 1990 after being with the company for thirty-three years. He is survived by one close brother, Ronald E. Jones (Mildred), his son and his family, his late wife Joyce’s children and their families, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends and their acquaintances.

Even though his life spanned decades with numerous achievements, activities and people, his greatest and favorite achievement and activity was being Pops. His grandkids were his life, and there are many children of younger generations who have stories and tales of various kinds involving the renowned Pops and his adventures with them at sporting and school events, outdoor activities, and time spent with him learning of his long life and family history through stories and original poems.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 1pm at the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Spanish Fort UMC, 6690 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527 or to a charity or foundation of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Jones family.