William I. "Bill" Paul

William I. “Bill” Paul Jr. was born to William I. Paul Sr. and Willie Kate Bragg Paul of Elmore City March 18, 1921. He died at his home September 10, 2007. He grew up and graduated from high school in Elmore City, then attended college at A&M in Stillwater. After college, he was employed by Wacker, Inc. as their store manager in Pauls Valley. He was married to Carmoleta Vaughn on Nov. 26, 1941. About a year after their marriage, he was called into service during World War II. During his absence, Carmoleta taught school, one year at Pauls Valley and the rest at Elmore City. Bill attended officer’s school and was preparing to leave for the European theater when his daughter, Bileta, was born October 28, 1944. Before leaving for overseas duty he was sent with a company of troops to Gainesville, Texas. Before returning to Maryland, he took some time to come by Elmore City on his way to catch a plane in Oklahoma City. He was met by Carmoleta in Gainesville and came to Elmore City and spent about one hour with his new daughter. When he reached Maryland, he was sent to the Pacific Theater instead of the European. While in the Pacific, he was with troops waiting to invade Japan when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed. He was in Japan two years with occupational troops. After his return home, he was rehired by Wacker’s and was sent to Kilgore, Texas as a store manager where they lived for three years. While there, their son, William I. Paul III was born October 1, 1947. They returned to Elmore City and their daughter, Jimmie Carol, was born July 8, 1949. In 1950, Bill was called back into active service as an officer of the 45th Division and was sent to the Korean conflict. The family remained in Elmore City, where Carmoleta resumed teaching until her retirement in 1981. After returning from the Korean conflict, Bill began farming and ranching and was employed by Phillips Oil Company and later by the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement.. In 1993, he retired from actively farming due to health issues. The most important things in his life were being a Christian, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He served as a deacon and an elder in the Elmore City Church of Christ for about 35 years. He was a devout scholar of the Bible. He searched diligently for the truth of the scripture and was convinced he found it. He lived and believed in the scripture “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. His faith and knowledge of God’s work, as he expressed it, made him the kind of husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather that God wanted him to be. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Bileta Burns, in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Carmoleta, of the home, one son, William I. Paul III of Ada, one daughter, Jimmie Carol Blaker of Sugarland, TX, seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren.. Services will be Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Elmore City. Joe Terrell will be officiating. Burial will be at the Elmore City Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home.

William I. "Bill" Paul

March 18, 1921 - September 10, 2007