[dropcap]I[/dropcap] planned to write about the life of Paul Chester Randolph. After my grandfather in law passed I knew there would be a day where I would share the memories and life of this remarkable man. After reading the obituary in the newspaper I knew there was little left to be said. I am free now to just share random feelings and memories. The obituary will be at the end of this post.
I miss Grandpa Randolph so much already. I know the next trip to West Virginia will be very hard. Pulling into his driveway and not seeing him sitting on the porch waiting for us is a feeling I dread. It will be like the last of the grandparent magic has left the house.
I know how hard it is to lose a Dad so my heart breaks for my mother in law Pauletta and her sister Stella. It is so easy to be selfish with those we love when death comes but I can say I am so happy that he and Grandma are together again. She loved that man something fierce. It is comforting to know that his not only with Grandma now but with his infant son.
Grandpa Randolph was so amazing. He helped raise his granddaughter Stacie. He never asked for thanks or wanted it. It was just what family does, what a man does. He was always there for all of us. He also ruthlessly made fun of us, to our faces, but you take the good and the bad.
I smiled when I read about his clocks in the obituary. That is one of the things I know will always stay with me in my memories of him. If that man gave you a clock or watch you know he cared. It was a big deal for him to part with either. Walking into the front room of his house you would think you were walking into German clockmakers from the sounds of all the ticking. The sound was comforting. I am scared the next time I am there it will be haunting.
So, Grandpa, this is it. I will be there to visit you and Grandma soon and then I need to stop feeling sorry my own loss so I can rejoice in all you have gained.
Obituary of Paul Chester Randolph
POINT PLEASANT — Paul Chester Randolph, 94, of 6807 Sandhill Road, Point Pleasant, went into the presence of God on March 18, 2018.
He was predeceased by his wife of nearly sixty years, Alice O. Wolfe Randolph; his parents, Goldye R. Johnson and John C. Randolph; two-day-old son, Lawrence C.; brother, George C.; sister, Mildred Zirkle and nephew, Oris Zirkle.
Paul dearly loved his surviving family which consists of: two daughters, Pauetta V. Randolph King and Stella M. Randolph Krebs; grandchildren, Stacie (Krebs) Pearson; Thomas “T.J.” (Kellie) King, Alia (King Carr) Meade; and Rissie King (Jon) Joy; great-grandchildren, Catherine S. Sapp; Christian A. King; Wyatt W. Pearson; Aaron R. Carr; Noah Z. Hunt; Colton R. Pearson; Levi T. Joy; great-great-grandson, Joshua L. High; several nieces and nephews; faithful friends and his church “family” from Oak Grove UM Church. He also felt blessed to have formed a special bond with one of his nephews, George C. “Buster” Randolph, with whom he shared a lot of the same interests.
After graduating from Wahama High School in 1941, he began working for Grant Roush and Sons of New Haven. Paul enlisted in the United States Navy serving during WWII where he was a Boatswain’s Mate, Second Class, piloting LCM3’s, Vehicle Landing Craft. Upon returning home, he worked at the New Haven Porcelain and Pottery Company and later received his licensing and co-owned a HVAC business in Mason, WV. In 1957, he began employment with Kaiser Aluminum in Ravenswood. He retired from Kaiser more than twenty-five years later.
Paul was talented in so many ways and gladly shared his knowledge with family, 4-Hers and others. His hobbies included wood projects and whittling, reading, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, repairing lawn mowers and spent many hours tinkering in his garage. He loved going to yard sales, collecting and repairing clocks and watches and, most of all, casually sitting on his front porch and enjoying the greetings from passengers as they drove past. Paul will be remembered for the remarkable impression that his personality made on everyone he met. He was proud of the fact that, at his age, he could still remember the order of the keys on a typewriter and would proceed to name them.
Services will be officiated by Pastor John Bumgarner with participation by family members at Deal Funeral Home in Point Pleasant on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 3 p.m. The family will be accepting friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Burial, with full military rites by VFW Post 9926 of Mason, American Legion Post 140 of New Haven, and American Legion Post 39 of Pomeroy, Ohio, will follow at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Letart.
