Paul Lewis Staley, 1925-1991

Paul, born September 25, 1925, was the second of two sons born to Dr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Staley of Sardinia, Ohio. The family later moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Paul met and eventually married his lovely wife, Marilyn Goenner, on June 5, 1948. The Lord blessed their marriage with three children: one son, Mark; and two daughters, Sue and Gail.

During World War II, Paul served in the South Pacific with the United States Marines (1943-46). Following his honorable discharge, with the rank of corporal, he returned to Ohio and became a student at Ohio University.

In 1967, after being employed as a plant manager for DAP, Inc., and during his career as a service technician for Electro Steam Generator, in Alexandria, Virginia, Paul found himself being called of God to enter the pastoral ministry, a call both heard and heeded. He completed required studies at the Emory Course of Study School, went on to be ordained a deacon on June 15, 1971, at the Virginia Annual Conference convened in Norfolk, and over the years served the following pastoral charges with growing devotion and distinction: Mt. Solon, Churchville, Fairfield, Hot Springs, Millboro, and Iron Gate. At the time of his death, June 3, 1991, Paul was only a week away from being recognized by the annual conference as one of its retiring ministers.

In recent years, Paul discovered a new dimension being added to his ministry. The potential for communicating Christian witness through a ministry of ventriloquism captured his imagination, which brought forth a new talent placed in service to Christ.

Some years ago I heard a teacher define the meaning of "friend" as "...someone with whom you feel free to be yourself." Few, if any, could personify this definition better than Paul Staley. He had a marvelously gifted way of helping people feel relaxed, accepted, and safe in his presence. His humor, with gentle spirit, and contagious laughter provided such a needed ministry to people with heavy loads and drooping smiles. People enjoyed Paul because Paul enjoyed people. What a gift!

 

-William R. Fisher