James Wesley Aldridge, 72, died Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 at his home in Foley.
He was born April 10, 1937 in Tulia, Texas. He graduated from Tulia High School and enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Rucker, where he was a helicopter test crew chief.
After his service in the Army, he worked for the State of Alabama in Emergency Management for 25 years where he helped to design and test many of the state's emergency systems today. For his contributions to the state he received numerous awards and accommodations including honorary degrees in Emergency preparedness; involved in the Democratic National Party; devoted to the Shriners and became a member of the Royal Order of Jesters and he raised thousands of dollars for crippled and burned children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Bruce Aldridge and grandparents in Tulia, Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Paula Martin Aldridge; three children, Bruce (Bridgett) Aldridge of Grove Oak, Taryn (Kevin) Gillespie of Dothan and James J. (Valerie) Aldridge of Mandeville, La.; four grandchildren, Zachary Aldridge, Olivia Gillespie, Abigail Aldridge and Charles Aldridge; and two brothers, Kenneth (Jean) Aldridge of Springhill, Fla., and Richard (Ernesteene) Aldridge of Tulia, Texas.
A memorial service was held Monday, Aug. 31 at the Loxley Civic Center.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Shriners Burn Hospital for Children, c/o Shriners International, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Arrangements were made by Mack Funeral Home and Crematory, Robertsdale.
