On Thursday, November 15, 2018, Harold James Paul, loving husband and father, passed away at age 82. Harold was born on January 10, 1936 in Muskegon, Michigan to Wilbur and Ruth (Hanson) Paul. He studied at Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and completed his degree at the American Academy of Art in Chicago.
He worked as a commercial artist for several corporations, including Post Cereal in Battle Creek, MI; General Foods in White Plains, NY; and locally, W.J. Hagerty & Sons, Wainwright Raber, Wheelabrator, and Krizman. On February 10, 1968, he married Linda Annis and in 1976, they welcomed their daughter, Amy. As a young child, “Chum” spent hours reading the Bible to his ailing grandmother, which fueled his lifelong love of reading.
He loved to talk about his latest read, and reminded friends and family of the wealth of information available for free at the public library. In later years, he enjoyed browsing at the library book sale, finding it hard to resist taking more titles home. He loved to share stories of growing up at “the old home place,” his parents’ apple and blueberry farm in Muskegon, where he worked hard, ate well (his mom Ruth’s delicious homemade pies and donuts), and laughed a lot with friends and neighbors.
He was especially grateful for the lifelong friendship of Bruce “Rocky” and Shirley Privacky. He fondly recalled childhood trips to visit his namesake, Uncle Harold, Aunt Rose and his cousins, Jim, Elaine, and Geoff in Pasadena, California as well as their visits to the family farm in Michigan. Michigan “Chum” became New York “Harry” where he and his good friend Charlie Tomasino lived above and tended a neighborhood bar owned by Stephen and Nancy O’Hare.
The O’Hare family’s warm welcome helped “Harry” feel right at home “out East”. “Harry” continued to visit with a number of friends from “out East” throughout his life. Later, in Indiana, Harold, known as “Uncle Lou” to his Annis nieces and nephews, could be found listening to the radio (WVPE Public Radio or a Big 10 football game) in the barn while puttering with his car and junk collections.
He loved bantering with family, friends and neighbors about current events, and he always had a pile of books to read. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Ruth, and his brothers, Charles and Gordon Paul. He is survived by his wife Linda, his children, Amy and her husband Dan Schmeltz, and large extended family.
There will be no services. His family requests that you celebrate his life by relaxing in a comfortable chair, reading a good book, and savoring a donut, piece of pie, or your own favorite “sweetie”. Memorial contributions may be made to WVPE Public Radio, 2424 California Road, Elkhart, Indiana 46514 or the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 South Main Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601.
The Palmer Funeral Home – North Liberty Chapel will be assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www. palmerfuneralhomes.com.
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