Jon Alan Standridge

BG Jon Alan Standridge, USA, Retired, was born April 15, 1936, in Hot Springs to the late Elmer Clyde and Juanita Atkins Standridge. He passed away peacefully at his home in Montgomery County on April 16, 2021, with his loving family by his side. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his brother Gary (Louise) Standridge of Rogers, and his in-laws Earl and Geneva Irons of Mount Ida.

Jon is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Margie Lou Irons Standridge, son Jon Brent (Lori) Standridge of Benton, daughter Laurie Ann (Rusty) Whisenhunt of Mount Ida; grandchildren Ty Alan Whisenhunt of Mount Ida, Jon Trevor Standridge of Benton, Paige Anderson Shields (Dr. Bradley Shields) of Salt Lake City, and Caitlin Beth (Cody) Davis of Mount Ida and great grandchildren Cass Cohen Davis and Gage Davis of Mount Ida. He is also survived by his sister Linda Connell McCarthy of Denver, nieces Rachel Standridge and Amy Catherine Connell, and nephews John Connell, Stephen Connell, and Gray Standridge.

Jon graduated from Mount Ida High School in 1954 before graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Army ROTC where he was a Distinguished Graduate.

Jon had a distinguished thirty-two year career in the military where he achieved the rank of Brigadier General while in the United States Army Reserve. During his time in the military he had numerous assignments including Commander and Chief of the Company Arms Group, 95th Training Command, Commander of the 460th Chemical Brigade, Commander of the 336th Ordnance Battalion, Chief of the Training Division, 122nd ARCOM, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Operations, and Intelligence for the 122nd ARCOM, Director and Instructor for the 4145th USAR School, Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for the 1st Battle Group, 29th Infantry, Platoon Leader and Commanding Officer for Company I, 3rd Battalion, 379th Regiment, 95th Division. He also received numerous decorations/badges including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Two Ten-Year Devices, Army Service Ribbon, and Parachutist Badge.

Jon also worked for the United States Postal Service as a postal clerk and mail carrier and served as Postmaster in Mount Ida and Mena, Arkansas, retiring after more than thirty-four years with the Postal Service.

Jon lived his entire life at his farm home in Montgomery County raising beef cattle, timber, and hay. He was an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and fish with his family and volunteered his time for many positions in the community including being a peewee sports coach and a member of many civic organizations. He served on the Mount Ida School Board for eleven years and was its President; a Montgomery County Auxiliary Deputy with the Sheriff’s Department; member of the Montgomery County Election Commission; a Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County; President of the Montgomery County Republican Party; founding member of the South Fork Fire Association; member and board member of the Mount Ida United Methodist Church; President of the Montgomery County Lions Club where he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.

A celebration of Jon’s life with military honors will be held Wednesday, April 21 from 4-6 P.M. at the Standridge Place, 2988 Highway 270 East in Mount Ida. Pallbearers will be Ty Whisenhunt, Trevor Standridge, Cody Davis, Jason Lenderman, Aaron Lenderman and Gage Davis. Following the service Jon will be laid to rest at the Standridge Ranch Family Cemetery.