Ira Jones Beaufort

AUGUSTA – Mr. Ira Jones Beaufort, 95, entered into rest on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at the Brookdale Senior Living Center.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Westover Memorial Park with the Rev. Jim Silcox officiating.

Mr. Beaufort was born in Aiken County, and spent his life in North Augusta. He attended North Augusta Schools and then Augusta College. At an early age, he joined Sherman and Hemstreet Real Estate Company. He later formed his own company as Beaufort and King. Along with Hammond Burkhalter, he developed the Hammond Hills subdivision. They also donated the land for Hammond Hills Elementary School. During World War II, he served as a flight instructor at Shaw Air Force Base in Camden, S.C. He later ferried C-47’s to Alaska and provided transport supplies.. While at Shaw, he trained the young RAF airmen who returned to England to fight the German Air Force.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, as well as the Augusta Country Club and the Bachelor’s Club.

He is survived by: his daughters, Bon Ellis and Zanne Colton; his son in law, Ron Colton; his sister, Estelle Zealy; sister in law, Toddle Beaufort; his nieces and nephews, Wallace Zealy, Ira Beaufort, Arthur Beaufort, Bowman Beaufort, Charlotte Zealy Works, Margery Beaufort Small, Roger Dent and Diana Dent Cox.

If so desired, memorials may be made to the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org, or at 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA., 20190.