Gene and Pauline Jones 

Gene S. Jones, 97, and Pauline Gibson Jones, 95, of Columbiana, AL both passed away on July 2, 2023 after long illnesses.

Gene was born on May 11, 1926 to George Paul and Maggie Jones of Tuscaloosa, AL. Gene enlisted in the Navy during WWII and served on a mine sweeper in the Pacific Theater. After the war he came home attended college at night to become an architect. He worked for 31 years for Evan Terry Associates, a well-known Architectural firm in Birmingham, AL. On January 20, 1950 Gene married his sweetheart, Pauline Gibson.

Pauline was born on May 15th, 1928 to John P. Gibson and Ruth Gibson of Birmingham, AL. She attended the University of Alabama then worked full time for the Birmingham Park Board for several years. Her passion was traveling and she loved the beach where she spent many happy times at their condo in Destin, FL with her children and grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Honey”.

Gene and Pauline were married for 73 years and went on to have two children, Karen Marlar (James) and Craig Jones (Esther), 6 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Gene and Pauline lived an active and full life traveling across America, Canada, Israel and Europe. They enjoyed camping and hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail from North Carolina to Georgia. Gene loved mountain climbing and climbed to the top of the Grand Teton. They were charter members of the Birmingham Canoe Club and the Homewood YMCA. They built the 25th house in the section that became Hoover, AL. Gene designed the first volunteer fire department in Hoover and served as a volunteer. They were members of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood for many years before moving their membership to First Baptist Church of Birmingham (where Gene served as Deacon) and then to First Baptist of Columbiana. Gene and Pauline were members of an RV Club where they served as chaplain and treasurer, respectively. They were also active participants in the Boy Scout Jamborees for 22 years. In 1973 they bought their “Little Slice of Heaven” in Shelby County, 56 acres of land they called “The Farm” where they lived after retirement until January 2023. They passed away together at The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek on Sunday, July 2nd just 12 hours apart.

Services will be held at the Alabama National Cemetery on Monday July 17th, 2023 at 11:45 am. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Big Oak Ranch, 6000 Shelley Drive, Springville, AL 35146.

2 Comments

  1. Yvonne F Raia on July 10, 2023 at 3:05 pm

    How amazing that God would take them home together. Praise God for His loving compassion. My condolences and prayers are with their love ones. I would say for you’ll not to grieve for them. They lived such beautiful full lives and had so many wonderful years together. Instead, rejoice for them. They are now spending all eternity together with their God.



  2. Dianne Debter on July 11, 2023 at 6:59 pm

    What a sweet story of two lives well lived together. Thoughts and prayers are with the families.