Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 62 Alumni Group

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Admiral John Paul Jones Jr.

August 7, 1932 - August 2, 2013

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" Anaïs 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. In lieu of flowers, the Jones Family requests that donations be made to either of the following: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 801 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 or to CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation, P.O. Box 667, Gulfport, MS 39502

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From: Paul Wollenhaupt To: Norman Hahn
Norman,

Just wanted to alert you to the passing of RADM John Paul Jones. He crossed over yesterday, 2 August 2013.

He was a Great Captain and an Honorable Man.

May he have fair winds.

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Just learned of the passing of our Captain ...RADM John Paul Jones...may he have fair winds

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Joined NMCB62 in Gulfport around 6/74 and stayed till 1/78.
Toured Rota, Spain, Okinawa and the worst possible place in the world - Diego Garcia (10 months). Yuk! When we were there the mess hall was being completed. Finally got to use it.

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PC-3,H company, served Dec.1966 to 1967 in Phu-bia Vietnam. Then back again 1967 to May of 1968 to Red beach,Danang in RVN. (its really been a long time)Thanks for creating this site.

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Served from 1977-1980, assigned to 6101 Automotive Repair parts, leading PO. Also, as Det Sigonella, as leading supply person. Met my wife (Alice) in Sigonella.....

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Greeting to all who knew me, hope life is treating you good!! 24 years since I walked away from 62 and the battalion folded. Many good times and alot of beer with incidents I laugh about to this day. My Little brother is a E-7 {fleet rate} in NMCB5 right now,He told me camp covington in guam got turned over to the army, no more seabees. I visited him and I can say the seabees from the past and the seabees of now are completely different in all aspects. I am sure everyone on this site will agree, when you see the numbers "62" when paying for something or a address or a size or model number of something it spurs some great memories or a silent laugh. Can't seem to shake those numbers....great memories!! I am still runnin bulldozers makin a good living thanks to seabee training.

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Glad to finally find the 62 website. Met up with 62 as a CE before we headed out for the last full deployment to Diego Garcia in 81, then to Guam, then det Gitmo, then Det Thurmont.
Now I am a history teacher and share all my photos with my high school students, I never have a problem keeping their attention.

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Joined MCB-62 in Gulfport and deployed to Hue Phu Bai, and Red Beach Da Nang. I was a plank owner in NMCB-62. My rate was UT3 and UT2 during this time. My service ended in september 1968.

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served 2 tours, '69 in dong ha, most out on hwy 9, I was a eo2, and '70 in danang, but really out at hill 55. hope everyone is doing well and life has treated you good. and to everyone who was there with me, welcome home.