L'ANSE - Paul Houston Childers, age 81, of L'Anse, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital.

Paul was born Sept. 11, 1927 in Baltimore, Md., son of the late Paul Houston and Joyce (Norby) Childers.

He graduated from Onarga Military School in 1946 and the University of New Mexico in 1952.

In 1949, he married Pat Bayless and in 1976, married Sharon Uren.

Paul lived in the Madison area for about 40 years. He owned car dealerships and his own insurance company and worked in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. He married the former Dorothy Kersey in Evansville, Wis. on Oct. 7, 2004, moving to L'Anse in 2006.

Paul was active in church all of his life. He was a past president of Rotary. Paul enjoyed keeping track of the weather daily. He also loved traveling, fishing and camping.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy, of L'Anse; son Paul Houston (Debbie) Childers III of Fitchburg, Wis.; daughter, Peggy (Bill) Ellis of Stoughton, Wis., stepchildren Jane Wainscott of Speedway, Ind., David (Fran) Wenz of Glendale, Ariz., Rob (Melody) Wenz of Pensacola, Fla., Elizabeth (Victor) Malloy of Richmond, Ind., brother John Norby (Sharon) Childers of McKinney, Texas, three grandchildren, 14 step grandchildren and many step great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. at the L'Anse United Methodist Church. The Jacobson Funeral Home in L'Anse is in charge of arrangements.

Friends may sign Paul's guest book or send condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.