Alva J. "A.J." English

Alva J. "A.J." English -FORT VALLEY - Alva J. "A.J." English, 81, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 2, 2012. -Graveside Services will be held at 2P.M. Sunday at Perry Memorial Gardens with Rev. Jeremy Morton officiating. -He was born on January 5, 1931 in Powersville, Georgia to Ruben and Lillian Cliett English. At the age of 16, his mother signed for him to join the U.S. Army. He served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and was in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions where he was the first enlisted man to instruct and train men to free-fall. He started the Golden Knights and HALO (high altitude, low opening). Mr. English was also a member of the Screaming Eagles. After retirement, he started working for Stalnaker Well Drilling and later started his own business, English Well Drilling and Repair. He was president of Empire Oil and Gas Company. -Mr. English was a member of Cross Point Baptist Church (formerly Tharpe Memorial) where he served as an usher and taught men's adult Sunday school. -He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy G. English in 2004. -Mr. English will forever be remembered and missed by his three children, Pamela Kirby (Joe), Paula Abbott (Doug) and Timothy English, all of Fort Valley; five grandchildren, Wayne Thompson (Mauri), Kim Weathington (Daniel), Lisa Kirby, all of Fort Valley, Matthew Abbott (Jenny) of Perry, and Megan A. Bryant (Michael) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; twelve great-grandchildren, two great great-grandchildren; International Compassion children, Abdu, Frans, and Mezy; siblings, Charles English, Frank English (Jean), both of Macon, and Ruth Dent (Roy) of Powersville. -In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cross Point Baptist Church Building Fund, 645 Perry Parkway, Perry, Georgia 31069. -Condolences may be left at www.watsonhunt.com.