Obituary for John Paul Jones - 11th Co.

John Paul Jones, Jr., retired Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, of Fernandina Beach, passed away on Friday afternoon, August 2, 2013 at the Baptist Medical Center Nassau. Admiral Jones was 80 years old. Born in Brunswick, Glynn County, GA, he was the only child of the late U.S. Naval Captain John Paul Jones, Sr. and Sophie Lachlan Atwood Jones. After spending his formative years in Brunswick, his father's career as a Navy dentist moved the family to TX and CA before returning to GA. At that time and as a teenager, he enrolled at Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, GA where he graduated at the age of 16. He would later be admitted to the Naval Academy in Annapolis where he graduated in 1954 and received his commission as an Ensign. He met his future wife, Wynelle Winkie Fender, also of Brunswick, on St. Simons Island in 1949; they would marry on the day of his graduation from Annapolis. His career moved the newlyweds to San Diego, CA where their first child, John Paul III, was born in 1955. They then moved to Troy, NY, where he graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in engineering. John Paul would later attend Stanford University and obtain his Masters degree in civil engineering. The Navy also sent him to study at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, and at Harvard Business School. While serving in Port Isabel, TX, a daughter, Julie Marsha, was born in 1960. Their third child, Karen Alison, was born in 1962 in Stanford, CA. Admiral Jones' career would take him to many other assignments in the U.S. and abroad, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Davisville, RI; the Presidential Retreat of Camp David, outside Thurmont, MD; Gulfport, MS; Da Nang, Vietnam; Charleston, SC; Alexandria and Norfolk, VA; and San Bruno, CA. While serving as the Commanding Officer at Camp David, John Paul and his family became personal friends with President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson. His service in Vietnam included award winning leadership of Mobile Construction Battalion 62 of the Navy's Seabees. As Rear Admiral, John Paul achieved the highest rank in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps. The Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (GA) was developed under his leadership. He retired from active duty in Washington, DC in 1987 after 33 years of service. The year following his retirement John Paul and Winkie moved to Fernandina Beach, FL where they built a home on Little Piney Island. In 2005 they moved to their home on Ameila Island. John Paul was an avid reader, enjoying international intrigue and espionage books as well as detective novels. He was an accomplished writer and enjoyed the game of golf. After settling in Fernandina Beach, he and his wife became active members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where he served on the Vestry and as church Treasurer. He was the loving husband of Wynelle Winkie Fender Jones, for 59 years. He was a devoted father to John Paul Jones, III (Sallie Ann Marston), Tucson, AZ, two daughters, Karen Alison MacNair (Timothy John), Fernandina Beach, FL, and Julie Marsha Penton-McGurn (Edward McGurn), Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He also leaves behind a daughter-in-law, Eren Lynn McGinnis, seven grandchildren, Sophia Sophie Ana s McGinnis Jones, Desmond Maxwell Max McGinnis Jones, Robert Paul Penton, Christine Alison Penton, Timothy John MacNair, Jr., Alison Nicole MacNair, Michael Lachlan MacNair, and a great grandson, Roberto Ivan Penton. John Paul also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and good friends whose lives he has touched. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, with the Reverend Rector Stephen Mazingo, officiating. Admiral John Paul Jones, Jr. will be laid to rest with Full Military Honors in St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery. His family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Oxley Heard Funeral Home. Please share his life story at www.oxleyheard.com OXLEY - HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com

Published in the Florida Times-Union on August 5, 2013