Paul Frederick Schultz Sr. was born in Decatur, Ill. on Feb. 19, 1913, and died May 12, 2013 at a local health care facility.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Edna Thompson Schultz; his parents, Carl and Marie Schultz; a daughter-in-law, Diane Houston Schultz; a grandson, John Robert Schultz; and 13 brothers and sisters, William Schultz, Emilie (Peggy) Manning, Emil Schultz, Herman Schultz, Rudolph Schultz, Marie Barber, Karl Schultz, Henry Schultz, Martha Catrett, Gus Schultz, Emma Riemer, Edward Schultz and Esther Jersild.
The Schultz family rode in a railroad boxcar to Foley in 1921 and settled on a 40-acre farm on County Road 20.
In high school, Paul played football, basketball and tennis. His 1930 football team was honored recently as one of Foley's undefeated teams with a record of 8-0-1. Foley scored 411 points that season, and the opposing teams scored a total of seven points.
Paul graduated from Foley High School in 1932, and worked at Dr. Holmes’ office and George Holk’s store before attending the University of Alabama, where he served as a proctor for numerous professors.
He graduated in 1939 with a B.S. degree in business, and he was selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma business honorary.
Paul received his commission as a second lieutenant in May 1939. After college, Paul worked for the state of Alabama Revenue Office in Montgomery until he received orders for the U.S. Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Paul served seven years of active duty as an artillery officer and then a finance officer at bases in Texas, Illinois and New Jersey. He advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel during his six years in the inactive reserve.
Paul was a lifetime member of the American Legion, and was honored in 2009 for more than 60 years of service.
When he returned to Foley after World War II, Paul bought the Standard Oil distributorship in 1948 (which later became Chevron Oil), and he retired in 1978. Paul delivered fuel and supplies to farms, airports, marinas and service stations, even during the oil embargo of the mid-1970s.
Paul became an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley after his family joined in 1921. He held numerous positions, including adult Bible class teacher, elder and officer in the Lutheran Layman’s League.
After retirement, Paul visited the sick and shut-ins on a daily basis.
Paul was a charter member of Gulf Shores Golf Club, and an avid golfer until age 96. He had the distinction of “shooting his age” several times.
As a community leader, Paul served on the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources board, the Baldwin Mutual Insurance board, the Riviera Utilities board and the Foley Schools Board of Trustees.
Paul coached one of the first baseball teams in Foley, the Villagers of Pine Village, and worked with the PTA to establish the first concession stand at football games.
Paul was a charter member of the Foley High School Alumni Association and an active member of the Baldwin County University of Alabama Alumni Association.
He was honored as 1993 Citizen of the Year by the Foley Rotary Club, and was selected for the Foley High School Hall of Fame.
Paul is survived by two children, Paul Schultz Jr. (Sabine) of Danbury, Conn. and Sandra Russell (Tim) of Foley; four grandchildren, Paul Schultz III (Jennifer) of Hyattsville, Md., Karen Miller (Mac), Kevin Russell (Lesley) and Kent Russell (Laurie) of Birmingham; and five great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Samuel Schultz of Hyattsville, Md. and Timothy Miller, Cole Russell and Riley Ann Russell of Birmingham.
The family of Paul Schultz would like to thank Paul’s lifelong friends, the Rev. Ryan Cramer and the members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the administration and staff of South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, the administration, staff and residents of Live Oak Assisted Living and the administration, staff and residents of Robertsdale Rehabilitation and HealthCare for their love, kindness, friendship and support during Paul’s last year of life.
Visitation will be at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley on Friday, May 17, 2013, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Schultz/Russell Scholarship through the South Baldwin Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1600, Foley, AL 36536, or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, P.O. 1603, Foley, AL 36536.
Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
