Obituary of Rev. Gerald Walton Paul
PAUL, Rev. Gerald Walton
Long time columnist "Letters from Paul" for the Kingston Whig-Standard, Gerald Paul died at Kingston Health Sciences Centre - KGH, on Friday, October 27, 2017. Married to Shirley (nee Dixon) in 1948, he studied at Albert College, took degrees at Queen's University, Queen's Theological College and Vancouver School of Theology. Ordained in 1957 by the Hamilton Conference of the United Church of Canada, he served pastoral charges in Manitouwadge and North Bay. In 1964 he was appointed the first interdenominational chaplain at Carleton University in Ottawa and in 1970 became Director of Programs at Iona College and United Church chaplain at the University of Windsor. After a sabbatical with family in Ottery St. Mary, Devon where he was attached to the University of Exeter, he returned to Windsor until 1977 when he accepted a call to Kincardine United Church.
After serving the church at every level, in 1983 he, with his wife Shirley, changed vocational direction. Moving to Kingston he became a freelance writer. During his writing career, he was published in over 25 magazines and newspapers, including 1,000 columns in the Whig-Standard. In pre-ministry years, he worked as a newsboy and telegraph boy, apprentice, boy soldier and, maintenance electrician at INCO's Copper Cliff plant.
A member of Kingston Presbytery, United Church of Canada, he attended Crossroads United Church (formerly known as St. Margaret's United Church). He also belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 9, Kingston Field Naturalists and was an ardent naturalist who studied the Little Cataraqui Creek region from Bath Road to Elevator Bay ever since coming to Kingston.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Shirley in 2014, and is survived by his children Dennis (Val), Cathy (John), Lloyd (Pat), Arnold, Gordon (Christine), as well as ten grandchildren, George (Jo), Katie (Dave), Steven (Nathalie), Sarah (Kris), Simon (Lindsey), Kirsten (Kenny), Elise, Robbie, Christopher, Alexander and ten great-grandchildren. Of seven siblings, two remain, Eva Campbell (Kenneth) and Carol Bartraw (Bill). Predeceased by his parents Lloyd and Clara (nee Thompson) Paul, sister Verna and brothers Lloyd, William and Donald (Kay). Cremation in the care of James Reid Crematorium. Memorial visitation will be held at the JAMES REID FUNERAL HOME, 1900 John Counter Boulevard, on Friday, November 3 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 7:00 - 9:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, November 4 at 11:00 am, with Rev. Patricia Lawson-Paul officiating. A reception will follow in the Reception Centre. Inurnment at Gananoque Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gerald`s memory may be made to the United Church of Canada (Mission and Service Fund), U.H.K.F. (Hotel Dieu), or Kingston Field Naturalists.
