COL Louis Ralph Jones, Jr., US Army (Ret.)

COL Louis Ralph Jones, Jr., US Army (Ret.), 85, of Columbia, died Monday, September 19, 2022. Born January 8, 1937, in Columbia, he was a son of the late Lewis Ralph Jones and Linnie LaNora Kleckley Jones. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Lona Jo Dishman Jones; second wife, Peggy Frances Lowe Compton Jones; as well as a sister. COL Ralph Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from Furman University in 1959. After graduating from college, he served honorably as a US Army officer for 30 years. His Army career began as a decorated helicopter pilot and instructor aboard Hueys and Chinooks who twice deployed to SE Asia before continuing his military education at the Command and General Staff College and remaining there as a Tactics Instructor. The US Army placed him around the country and around the world; from the offices of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, and RRMC/Ft Pickett to the European theatre as Army liaison to US Air Forces Europe, and subsequently with the Headquarters of the US Army, Europe, and NATO before returning stateside. His experience and strong reputation opened more remote opportunities in South Korea, collectively teaching and working alongside allied officers before retiring from the Army at Ft Lee, Virginia, in the Richmond Metropolitan area. Following his military retirement, Ralph joined the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, where he continued to serve with the State’s Deputy Director for the next 15 years. During his tenure there he was the senior state official presiding over 12 presidential declared disasters. Ralph was very active with many associations throughout his lifetime. Some of the organizations he was most fond of were, The Association of the US Army, Army Aviation Association of America, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Guns-A-Go-Go, Virginia Baptist Homes (Board Member), Virginia Emergency Management Association (Lifetime Member), Virginia Fire Chiefs’ Association (Lifetime Member), Virginia Association of Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Lions International, and the Chesterfield Lions Club (President). Ralph was a member of the Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, and had most recently attended First Baptist Church of Columbia. Survivors include his daughters, Kim McDaniel, and Darla Cravey (Phil); stepdaughter, Lynn Stogner (Barry); Stepsons, David Compton, John Compton (Kimmie), and Bryon Compton (Joanna); grandchildren, Matt McDaniel (Hayley), Greg McDaniel, Andrew Cravey, Daniel Cravey, Joseph Stogner (Emily), Benjamin Stogner (Erica), Haley Compton, and Greg Compton; great grandchildren, Audrey Stogner, Oliver Stogner, Finn Stogner, and Elena Stogner. The graveside service for COL Jones will be held at 11 o’clock, Tuesday, September 27th at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fund ALZ and Dementia research for finding a cure OR sponsor a team local to you for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease, October 8, 2022, in over 600 communities nationwide.

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COL Louis Ralph Jones, Jr., US Army (Ret.)

January 8, 1937 - September 19, 2022