Richard Allen Sones
April 1, 1937 ~ May 18, 2013
Born in:
Mobile, AL
Resided in:
Suwanee, GA
Colonel Richard A. Al Sones, age 76, of Suwanee, GA passed away May 18, 2013. He was raised in Bogalusa, LA and served 30 years in the U.S. Army. Col. Sones completed 2 combat tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and received 2 Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Legion of Merit. After retirement in 1992 from Fort Gillem, GA, he served 15 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Atlanta.
Colonel Sones is preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin & Lylia Sones, and brother, Lt. Commander William C. Sones, USN. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Kay Sones; son, Matthew Sones & wife, Sharon; daughter, Samantha Fair & husband, Michael; grandchildren, Rebecca, Madeline, Emma, Laurel, & Deidre Fair, and Callie & Kirk Sones.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at The Catholic Church of St. Monica, 1700 Buford Hwy, Duluth, GA 30097, with Father Jack Durkin serving as Celebrant. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in memory of Colonel Sones, to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 21, from 6:00-8:00 pm with rosary at 7:30 at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, 770-277-4550. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com.
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Matt, my condolences to you and your family. May God give you all peace and comfort during this time.
Donna
My deepest sympathy to Matt Sones and family during this time of bereavement.
Know that God loves you and watches over you and your family even now.
Matt and family,
May your father’s memories be your comfort, and may these memories never fade.
My deepest sympathies to you and your family during this difficult time.
Januett
Matt: Very sorry to hear this and believe me, I know how you must feel. My dad was Col/USAF when he died. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace…amen.
Al is an American hero and an American treasure. He loved his family and his country.
He dedicated most of his life to serving his country as a highly decorated US Army Colonel and later serving other veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He made a profound difference in the lives of many people. Al is one of the most kind, accomplished yet most humble men I have ever met. I feel privileged to have been his friend.
Matt and Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss.
If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
Matt,
I’m so sorry to learn of the passing of your Dad. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this time of loss.
Matt,
My love and prayers are with you and your family. Remember all th wonderful times you shared with your father and know he will live in your heart forever.
Matt,
I’m deeply saddened to hear about the loss of your father. My prayers and condolences are with you and your family at this time.
Warmest Regards,
Hilary Oliphant
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be neighbors of Al and Mary Kay these past 12 years. We could not have picked better people to live next door . Al’s soft spoken ways and demeanor never gave you a hint that he was an American Hero. He was someone you could look up to and be proud to call a friend and patriot. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and Bella his beloved dog. We will miss him here but Heaven will have another beautiful soul for it’s Army. Our prayers and love to Mary Kay and the children.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. You all are in my prayers.
I a sorry to learn of your loss. May God comfort you and bring you peace through the loving promise of the resurrection. Rev. 21:3-4
I a sorry to learn of your loss. May God comfort you and bring you peace through the loving promise of the resurrection. Rev. 21:3-4
As they say, better late than never. Al and I went to flight school together in 1963 and became the best of friends. Al had a 1963 Chevrolet Impala and blew the engine out while we were at Fort Wolters, TX. He may have been driving a little fast. after I was working for United Airlines he called and asked if I would be in his wedding and I had to say no as I could not get time off from a new job. I have regretted that regularly all these years as I never heard from him again. Over the years I have searched for him but was unable to find him. I hope the next time we see each other in a better place I can tell him how very much I loved him.