Paul Brown's Obituary
Ora Paul Brown was born on December 20, 1930, in Avant, Oklahoma to Lee and Elsie Brown. He lived there with his family until moving to the Puyallup/Sumner area at the age of 4.
At age 21, Paul enlisted in the Navy. He was in the service for 3 years and enjoyed boxing for exercise, but eventually quit because he discovered he didn't like hitting or hurting people.
Once a civilian again, Paul worked at his first barber shop in Bremerton, then another in Tacoma on 6th and Sprague. Eventually he opened up his own barber shop in University Place on 27th and Locust, which he worked at for more than 20 years. He had many loyal clients there and was known to cut the hair of father, sons, and grandsons. Even after "retirement", he continued to work at Jim's Barber Shop, as well as another shop in Federal Way. He also made house calls at nursing homes for friends who were unable to make it out for a haircut. He enjoyed helping others in any way he could.
Paul was a bachelor until the age of 41 when he married his first wife, Nina. Although he never had children of his own, when he married Nina, he became an instant Dad and Grandfather (and eventually a Great-Grandfather). He loved family, though, and took them all under his wing. He loved and cared for them, as if they were his own. When Nina died after 30 years of marriage, he was widowed for 2 years before marrying his current wife, Olivia, in 2006. When they married, he added 2 more children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to his family.
Paul loved woodturning and received awards for some of his work. He made beautiful bowls, pens, clocks, and many more things in his garage. He was a founding member of the South Puget Sound Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.
Paul was one of the healthiest men around. He continued jogging up until age 75. He was the one you called if you needed help moving. Without a second thought, he would load his truck full of furniture, tie it down with one of his special knots he'd learned in the Navy so it wouldn't come lose, then unload the whole truck at the new location. His specialty was moving couches up very steep flights of stairs--and allowing the person 40 years younger than him to take the top, so he could do all the strenuous work pushing from the bottom!
Paul's great love was sharing the word of the Bible with friends at church through prayer meetings. He attended Life Center, Grace Assembly, and later the Church of All Nations near his home. When his health started declining, he still tried to make the Senior prayer meetings on Wednesday mornings with his wife Olivia.
Paul had a special way of touching everyone he met with his big heart and his love for life. He was a wonderful man and will be dearly missed by all of his family and friends.
Paul is survived by wife Olivia, sister Faye Edmonson, Stepdaughters Anna Tondino (and husband Lou), Nadine Fulton (and husband Larry), Bobbi Martin, Kim Delich, and Christina Peterson; Stepsons Wayne Segar and Joe Martin; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by first wife Nina, sister Elsie Vickerman, Stepdaughter Doris Olson.
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