Life is rarely easy – and Paul definitely did not have an easy life.   Somehow, though, he never internalized the bad or let it take over his world view.  Think about it - can anyone reading this ever remember Paul being mean?    He never said anything mean about or to anyone.   There are very few people in the world about whom that can honestly be said.  He kept looking for the good . . . the joyful . . . the happy in the world.   Despite what life threw at him, Paul was able to keep going back to a place of inner happiness most of his life.

Paul's life began right before Christmas in 1966. He went through his grade school and high school years in Plano, Texas.   He joined the military shortly after high school graduation. Most of his military career was spent in Germany where he met many lifelong friends and joined the Pentecostal Church.

After leaving the military, Paul wound up in Houston and met his wife Tuni at Church. His friends told us that he pursued her until he got her to say 'yes'. They married on March 6, 1999 and had their daughter Anna on November 12, 2003.   Paul wound up working for the state or county government for much of the time thereafter - including a part time job doing tours at the Battleship Texas - until he got what he said "was the best job I ever had" at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. He loved working with the troubled youth at that center and was able to connect with many of them.

Paul's love of reading and learning stayed with him throughout his life.   His dislike of vegetables stayed with him throughout his life also - with the memorable exception of cabbage soup that his friend Bill Fussell tricked him into eating while they were in Germany.

Paul's greatest joy in life was his wife and daughter.   He had such pride whenever he talked about his family.   He knew how blessed he was to have Tuni as a life partner. She made him whole, helped him to keep moving forward in life and contribute to the world.   And - oh my goodness - his daughter, Anna. His nickname for her was "Princess" and he absolutely considered her to be one.    One of the best ways to see Paul's smile was to ask him a question about Anna.

Paul was one of those special souls in the world. He had a lightness inside that enabled him to carry on despite some very rough times. The number of people who came to visit him in the hospital was astonishing (he might have even set a record for visitors) and a tribute to his simple goodness.

What a joy it was to have had Paul in our lives. What a wonderful life he had. What a wonderful life he brought to us.

Please send any expression of condolences to the charity of your choice in Paul's memory.

The service will be held at The Church Triumphant, Thursday, September 5, at 11:00am, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Houston National Cemetery.