Paul was born April 14, 1931 in Malaya of missionary parents. He had one older sister, Ruth Ann Esaias. Paul returned to Washington prior to World War II. He attended school in Seattle and Sumner, eventually moving to the east coast and graduating from Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, VA.
Four years later, Paul graduated from Western Washington College of Education and began his teaching career in Auburn WA. During this time he also served in the Coast Guard aboard the ice breaker, Northwind.
Later, he obtained his master’s degree in school psychology and became the Director of Pupil Personnel Services at the Highline School District. While at Highline, Paul became a founding member of Highline-West Seattle Mental Health Agency, where he worked as a counselor. He founded Auburn Counseling Services from which he retired in 1998.
Paul married Geraldine Berg of Everson, WA in 1953. They had four children- Lauri, Jeff, Tim (Mary), Barbie (Mike), and six cherished grandchildren- Karleigh (Cody), Mikaela, James, Connor, Emily, and Griffin. Two years after Geraldine passed away, Paul met and married Suzanne Lombard who has three children: Donald, Sally, and Janice, and one delightful grandchild- Lilah.
Paul has been active in community affairs. He was a member of Auburn Methodist Church and Sun City Unity Church in Arizona. He founded the Dodsworth Golf Group over 20 years ago and they remain active today. His passion has always been his family, along with a lifelong abiding love of golf.
Paul passed away peacefully at his home on Monday September 17, 2018. He inspired every single person he came in contact with, with his eternally positive outlook and authentic spirit. Paul will be deeply missed by his family and hundreds of his very best friends. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to the many he met along life’s way.
Services will be held on October 6, 2018 at 11:00am at the Auburn First United Methodist Church, address noted below.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Auburn Valley Humane Society (4910 A St. S.E. Auburn, WA 98092) or Auburn First United Methodist Church Youth Group (100 N St. S.E. Auburn, WA 98002).
