Paul Spaulding

Winston Paul Spaulding was born in Gotebo, Kiowa County, Oklahoma on November 1, 1925. He was the son of Ed and Melba “Smith” Spaulding. Paul moved with his family at an early age to the cities of Chicago, New Orleans and then to the Vinita Oklahoma area where he attended school in Vinita, Centralia and White Oak, Oklahoma.
At the age of sixteen Paul went to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he enlisted (into the service of his country) in the United States Navy. He served honorably for two years and then returned to White Oak Oklahoma where he graduated from high school. Upon graduation from high school, Paul attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Oklahoma for a time, before later attending Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, Oklahoma. While in Miami, Paul was united in marriage to Dorothy “Lunday” Spaulding on November 23, 1948, while making their initial home in Miami.
Later they moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where Paul attended Pittsburg State Teachers College and received his Bachelor of Science in Education; majoring in English. He taught school for a while before entering the National Guard and then deployed to Korea for a short time before relocating to Miami, Oklahoma. Paul worked in the pipeline industry his entire career; working mostly for Sunoco.
After eighteen years in Hominy, they moved to Lindsey for a couple of years before being transferred to Winnsboro, Texas with Texoma Pipeline Company. Later on during his retirement Paul and Dorothy moved to the Baptist Retirement Village in Owasso, Oklahoma in 2002 to be closer to his son’s family. Dorothy preceded him in death on October 31, 2006.
While residing in Hominy, the couple attended the First Baptist Church. Paul was described by his family as strong, honest, God fearing man and could be a tad bit cantankerous. He had high expectations for his children and grandchildren, but loved them dearly. In fact, he loved all his family including 50 or so cousins, and many nieces, nephews and extended family that he referred to as his “relates.”
Paul’s hobbies included reading history books, business journals etc. He was extremely adept at participating in the stock market daily. He was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan. He enjoyed writing which included sayings, quotes and writing poetry. He liked working outside in the yard, and once fell out of a tree when he was 71 years old while trying to saw some branches. He always enjoyed taking his family on two week vacations each year and they visited many states, cities, lakes, rivers and oceans. He loved board games with the family like monopoly and rook and enjoyed playing more when he won. He loved to take his children and their friends hiking, he taught himself to sail and enjoyed taking his family sailing. Paul was often quoted as saying, “Everything you need to know is in one book, the Holy Bible”. Additionally, one of his favorite expressions was “It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep.”
Paul passed from this life on April 24th, 2015 at the Highlands of Owasso, Owasso, Oklahoma at the age of 89 years. In addition to his wife Dorothy, he was preceded in death by his parents; Ed and Melba Spaulding, three brothers; George, Milan and Ben Spaulding, and one sister Sue “Spaulding” Hart.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Donna Spaulding, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, daughter; Barbara Spaulding of Midland, Texas, a son and his wife; Dan and Debbie “Haines” Spaulding of Owasso, Oklahoma, and a daughter and her husband; Sara “Spaulding” and Dennis Candler of Midland, Texas. Three grandsons; Joe and Patricia Spaulding of Claremore, Oklahoma, Scott Faudree Texarkana, Texas, and Matthew Candler of Port Neches, Texas. Great Grandchildren; Trey Spaulding, Taylor Spaulding of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Arianna Roux of Claremore, Oklahoma, Trent Faudree of Lubbock Texas.
Funeral services will be held at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Chaplain Terry Snelling officiating Interment, and final military honors will be provided by the Veterans of Foreign War at the A.J. Powell Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com. You may also donate to the charity of your choice.