Colonel William Robert Pinkston, Jr., U.S. Army, Retired, 87, Grayton Beach, FL, formerly of Albany and Dawson, GA died April 5, 2022 at home. No services are planned. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA on a date to be determined.

A native of Parrott, GA, COL Pinkston retired from a distinguished career in the U.S. Army in 1986 after more than 30 years active service. He served overseas in Korea with the 1 ^st Cavalry Division, in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division, and had assignments in France, Italy, Germany, and Egypt. He also served in the Pentagon in the Office of the Joints Chiefs of Staff 1975-1979. He was the Chief of Logistics for the establishment and deployment of the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping force in Sinai, Egypt in 1982. His final assignment before retiring in 1986 was with the newly established United States Central Command at Mac Dill Airforce Base, FL.

During his military career, he received many awards. Among them were two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legion of Merit Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and three Army Commendation Medals. He was a Senior Parachutist and a Parachute Rigger.

COL Pinkston graduated from Mercer University in 1956 as an Army ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Blue Key Honor Society, captain of the Mercer baseball team, and president of the "M" Club. He was a graduate of the Army Infantry School and the Army Quartermaster School. He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1969 and the Army War College in 1975. He received a Master's Degree from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania in 1975.

COL Pinkston was associated with Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany for 16 years following retirement from the Army. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and later as Director of School Relations and Publications on the staff until he retired in 2004. In 2008, he served as President of the Mercer University Alumni Half Century Club. He cherished his family and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was respected for his integrity and strength of character.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Jane Horne Pinkston of Grayton Beach, FL; two sons Bill Pinkston (Patti) of Atlanta and J.B. Pinkston (Melissa) of Atlanta; a daughter, Jean Marie Davis (Steve) of Lakewood, CO; six grandchildren, Rob Pinkston, Anderson Davis, Klair Davis, Julia Mae Davis, Grayton Pinkston, and Ruby Pinkston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lois Pinkston of Parrott, GA and a sister, Barbara Pinkston King of Rock Hill, SC.

Memorials may be made to Point Washington United Methodist Church, 1290 North County Highway 395, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.