ELKHART -- Oran Douglas Jones, 87, of Elkhart, formerly of Blytheville, Ark., died at 9:55 p.m. Monday (Nov. 9, 2009) in Hubbard Hill Estates.

He was born Feb. 20, 1922, in North Little Rock, Ark., to Joe B. and Carrie (Covington) Jones. On June 12, 1948, he married Caroldene Warren in North Little Rock.

She survives in Elkhart along with two daughters, Nancy (Jim) Hannah of Elkhart and Carol (Randy) Martin of Germantown, Tenn.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Joe Baxter Jones, and one brother, Harold W. Jones.

Mr. Jones graduated from Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M Aggie Muster Group. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 279th Combat Engineer Corps and was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he received a Bronze Star and Silver Star. He worked as a mechanical engineer for NIBCO for 35 years in Nacogdoches, Texas, Elkhart, Stuarts Draft, Va., and retired from its Blytheville location.

He was a 32-year member and deacon at First Baptist Church, Blythesville, and had volunteered at Brinkley Heights Ministries in Memphis, Tenn.

He enjoyed woodworking and was a former member of Lions International.

A gathering of friends and family will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the chapel at Hubbard Hill Retirement Community, 28070 C.R. 24, Elkhart. Additional services will be in Blytheville and burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Blytheville.

Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is assisting with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hubbard Hill Retirement Community or McCoy Memorial Baptist Church, 134 St. Clair Ave., Elkhart, IN 46516. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.