Paul Spring

Paul G. Spring, 86, of Sabetha, passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at the Sabetha Community Hospital.

Paul was born on Thursday, September 8, 1921 at home in Bern, Kansas to Earl and Esther (Bearg) Spring. He graduated from Sabetha High School in 1940. Paul attended Kansas State University where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He entered the US Army Air Corps in 1942 and reported for duty at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas where he was assigned to the 75th Basic Flight Training Squadron. There he met his wife, Evelyn "Bunny" Farrant who was serving in the Women's Army Corps. They were married on April 14, 1945 at the chapel at Ellington Field. Paul served in Guam for the remainder of his military service.

After being discharged, Paul and his wife moved to Sabetha where he worked in a processing mill at the elevator and later was District Manager for Foxbuilt Feeds. He then worked for Wenger Manufacturing Inc. for 30 years. After retiring, he was the Executive Director of the Sabetha Housing Authority for 20 years.

Paul was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he taught 4th and 5th grade Sunday School classes for many years. He was a member of Sabetha Masonic Lodge No. 162 AF & AM, past patron of Sapphire Chapter No. 348 of the Order of the Eastern Star (Scottish Rite) and the Arab Shrine in Topeka. Paul served on the Northeast Kansas Library System Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees of the Mary Cotton Public Library and the Sabetha High School Alumni Board.

Paul enjoyed gardening, coin collecting, hunting with his grandson, and a good piece of gooseberry pie. He was a faithful and true-hearted Sabetha High School alumnus, and looked forward to gathering with classmates at the Alumni Banquet each year.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bunny on March 30, 1997; and his two sons, David Earl Spring, September 22, 1986 and Paul G. Spring II, January 24, 1991.

Survivors include his daughter, Candee Lehmann of Sabetha; two brothers, Kenneth Spring of El Dorado, KS and Robert Spring of Sabetha; an one grandson, Kristin Lehmann of Sabetha.

A cremation is planned. A visitation will be held at 1pm on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 followed by a memorial service at 2pm at the First United Methodist Church in Sabetha. Private inurnment will be at a later date in the Sabetha Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church of Sabetha or the Sabetha High School Alumni Scholarship Fund.