Elma Paul
Elma Paul, 95, died May 7, 2003, at St. Simeans Nursing Home in Tulsa, Okla.
She was born April 3, 1908, in rural Canada community to Theophile and Pauline (Messner) Wuertz.
She spent her first eight years on a farm west of Canada then the family moved to another farm near Halstead.
Elma became interested in nursing at an early age by helping care for her invalid sister. She graduated from Halstead High School. She continued her education by graduating from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., and the nursing program at the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, Ill. She became licensed in Illinois and Kansas.
She met Dallas Paul while at North Central College. They were married April 21, 1936, at Halstead. Three sons were born, Theodore, Arthur, and Dallas Jr. They spent their years as a family on a farm near Peabody. Elma was a nurse in the area for many years. She and Dallas traveled to all the boys ball games and became avid Kansas State University fans.
Elma was active in the Eastmoor United Methodist Church, loved singing gospel songs, cooking, canning, gardening and flowers, crocheting, and traveling with Dallas.
In 1967, she and Dallas moved to Marion to the September Apartments. After Dallas died on Feb. 20, 1992, she moved to St. Simeans Nursing Home in Tulsa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dallas; two brothers, Oscar and Arnold; one sister; son Theodore; and two grandchildren.
Survivors include Art and Linda Paul of Tulsa, Okla., Dallas Jr. and Jan Paul of Charlotte, N.C., daughter-in-law Billie Paul, Custer, Wash., four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday morning at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Officiants were the Revs. John Goering and Robert L. Priest. A harp solo was played by Linda Paul. Vocalist J. Robert Brookens sang "It Is No Secret" and "Near To The Heart Of God," accompanied by Anita Brookens on the organ.
Casket bearers were Greg Bowers, Tim and Jim Christensen, Randy Vogel, Gordon Groening, and Gail Whiteman. Honorary bearers were John Jordan, Pete Propp, Jack Regnier, Dean Batt, Eugene Enos, and Elmer Schroeder.
Interment was in Marion Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established with Eastmoor United Methodist Church.
