David H. Paul

David H. Paul was born September 5, 1925 in Pinewald, NJ and went to be with the Lord on Saturday May 8, 2021 in Shreveport, LA. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years 8 months, Mattie Lee Paul, his dear son, Dennis Andrew Paul and his grandson Robin C. Holcombe. He is survived by his daughter, Grace Ann Poynter and husband, Robert Poynter; one sibling, Tabea Oelschiegel of New Jersey; his grandchildren Karen E. O’Hara of California, Samuel H. Holcombe and wife Mary of Bossier Parish, LA, and Joseph D. Holcombe and wife Fran of Lake Charles, LA. Also surviving are four step-grandchildren, Patty Jones, Taylor Villarreal, Karis R. Dunn and Michael C. Holcombe; direct great grandchildren Ricky O’Hara, Erika O’Hara, David Holcombe, Grace LeeAnn Murphy and Nathan Holcombe. In addition he has multiple other great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Mr. Paul was involved in tumbling and acrobatics in high school in Pennsylvania. He learned to play the cornet and trumpet as a young boy but sadly did not continue to pursue it in later life. His family was a large family and all were musically inclined in one way or another. He had four sisters and two brothers and they were all raised in a Christian environment which ultimately led Mr. Paul to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As his life continued he never wavered from that belief or away from learning more about the Word of God. He joined the Army Air Corp in April of 1944 and served proudly during WWII. He was a member of the 509th squadron, 58th Army Air Corp Wing who, while stationed on the Marianas Islands, serviced the B-29 Bombers tasked with dropping the atomic bombs which ended the war with Japan. In his personal affects he still had his arm patch from this unit. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1945 and joined the reserves; that time receiving his final honorable discharge from the service. His family was taught by him and his wife, who also served in the Army Air Corp, to deeply respect the military and the USA flag and government for which they served. He returned to college at Stephen F. Austin State University and completed his bachelor’s degree after detaching from the military with an Honorable Discharge. While there they attended church faithfully and he became the Choir Director for about two years. From there they moved with their children to Houston, Texas where he went to work at Hugh’s Tool Company. He finally ended up working for Sheffield Steel, later known as Armco Steel from which he retired at 60 years of age. He was a systems analyst and computer programmer working on the old main frame computers which were housed in huge rooms encompassing almost one full floor. For some years he and his family attended Homestead Baptist Church there. His children were led to Jesus Christ while attending there. After some years they decided to try a church they had been hearing about in downtown Houston and they started attending in 1957. It became their place of study and worship. Berachah Church was feeding him and his family with God’s Word and he finally had found the “truth” that he and his wife had longed to learn for many years. He continued there until 2010 but took in God’s Word via DVD’s from Berachah then. In 2014 he realized he needed help caring for his now very ill wife and he had his daughter and family make arrangements to move them to Shreveport, LA. This did not stop his intake of God’s Word, He continued until his death to learn “God’s Word and thinking” by watching the Bible Classes on DVD. David H. Paul was a man of the greatest integrity and strength because of his faith in the Lord and his continued desire and hunger for the truth of God’s Word. For those who knew him or just met him it was evident. He was a kind, caring, gently man who wanted his family, friends, and anyone he met to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the thirst for the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD through the scriptures in the BIBLE. He will be greatly missed but those of us who remain can rest in the comfort knowing that he is “face to face with the Lord in a place of no more sorrow, no more pain, the old things have passed away.” David H. Paul is rejoicing with the Lord and is happy and free of the earthly things. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 & 4 1-“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 4- A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.” I Corinthians 15:54-57 54-“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable; and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. (Isaiah 25:8) 55-O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? (Hosea 13:14) 56-The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; (Romans 3:20) 57-but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 8:37)