Obituary of Paul Clement Ardoin

ELGIN—Funeral service for Dr. Paul Clement Ardoin, 66, of Elgin, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Monsignor Richard Harris will officiate. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. in Ft. Jackson National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Knights of Columbus. The family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Dr. Paul Ardoin, beloved husband of 46 years to Vera Shaw Ardoin, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Born in Basile, LA, he was a son of the late Milton Ardoin and Mable Landry Ardoin. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church as well as the Knights of Columbus, the Special Forces Organization and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Paul proudly served his country in the U.S. Army retiring with over 20 years of dedicated service and during his tour of duty he was a member of the elite Army group known as "Special Forces". He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (6th AWD), Army commendation Medal (1 OLC), Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd AWD), Civil Action Honor Medal (1 OLC), Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon w 3 DVC, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Silver Service Star and two Bronze Service Stars. Following retirement from the US Army, Paul worked as a Training Instructor at Fort Jackson in Columbia S.C. His highest educational achievement was receiving his Doctrine of Philosophy in Health Administration. Surviving in addition to his loving wife, Vera Shaw Ardoin; sons, Aldevone Tyrone Ardoin (Valeria) and Antonio Tracy Ardoin (Denise) all of Columbia, S.C.; sisters, Lucile Thierry (Williard) of Tulsa, OK; Audrey Jones (Willie) of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Marques Ardoin, Kanisha Ardoin, Antonia Ardoin and Antoinette Ardoin; one uncle, Eli Landry and one aunt, Miltred Thomas and the beloved family dog, Goldie; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210 and American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 and Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.