Clyde Allen Paulson

Clyde A. Paulson March 21, 1936 - October 6, 2017 East Wenatchee, WA Clyde Allen Paulson, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died suddenly on Friday, October 6, 2017, at Central Washington Hospital, at the age of 81. Clyde was born on March 21, 1936, in Jamestown, ND, to Martin Helic Paulson and Josephine Neva. Clyde's father passed away after returning from WWII, and Clyde and his two older siblings spent two years in a Catholic orphanage before they were taken in by his uncle Jack and aunt Velva Neva in Centralia, WA. The family moved following logging camps and at age 14, Clyde, who did not want to move any longer, decided to live in a small cabin eight miles outside of Centralia. He supported himself by working before and after school, unbeknownst to his teachers and fellow students, and lived this way through high school graduation in 1954. During high school, he signed up for the Army National Guard and trained on weekends. After graduation, Clyde went to work for a logging company and in off seasons, he rented a float house and fished near the mouth of the Columbia River. He eventually served full time in the Civil Service branch of the Army National Guard. He became a heavy equipment and tank mechanic and later, ran that department. He also supervised the basic training in the northwest states, including the war games in the Yakima area. He was a drill instructor and an inspector of the missile silos for the northwest states. He took every opportunity to advance his skills and knowledge, and encouraged others to do the same. He traveled the country extensively, teaching classes, and retired after 42 ½ years of service as a Sergeant Major in 1996, the highest rank of a non-commissioned officer. In 1964, he married Dorothy Williams and helped her raise her two teenaged daughters, Charolette and Karen, in Chehalis, WA. During these years, he also played softball, hunted every year with his buddies, raced motorcycles, and helped build the Pacific Crest Trail. He was also a logger, fished North River, and partnered with Gordy Neva renting cabins to fishermen. He worked and sold Bridgestone motorcycles with a friend, and owned a dress shop with his wife. After his wife, Dorothy, had passed away, he attended his 50th class reunion, where he had met the girl he had walked down the aisle with during high school graduation, Eva Sandvig, and they were married in April, 2005. Clyde moved over the mountains and bought a home in East Wenatchee, WA, where he where he would build a large garage to house his hobbies, and become a step-father and grandfather to Eva's family. Clyde became very involved in helping people at his church or in the neighborhood, as well attending the endless school activities of his grandkids. He kept busy improving his property, raising vegetables and flowers, and teaching SAIL exercise classes for seniors. He also enjoyed keeping in contact with his family in North Dakota. Clyde had many friends wherever he would go. He was known for his kindness, his magnetic personality and his non-stop desire to reach out to help others. He was very generous with his resources and time, always helping someone build, fix or create something, and was a prolific storyteller. Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Connie; and brother, Don. He is survived by his wife, Eva Paulson; her children: David (Denise) Langlois, East Wenatchee, WA, Sue (John) Durr, New Jersey, and Cindy Langlois, Kent, WA; grandchildren: David Langlois, Josiah Langlois, Alex Durr; and one great-grandchild, Catherine Langlois. He is also survived by step-daughters: Charolette (Dean) Brown, New Mexico, and Karen (Denny) Cothren, Centralia, WA. Grandchildren are Christy Cothren, Becky Cothren of East Wenatchee, WA, and Jodi Johnson; nine great-grandchildren include Chase and Chance DeGuise, and Michael and Jacob Newcomer of East Wenatchee, WA; and five great-great- grandchildren. He is also survived by nephew, Marty Martin and son, John, of Eatonville, WA. A Color Guard Funeral Service will be held in the Forest Funeral Home Cemetery Chapel, 2501 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia, WA, at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. A Memorial Service and reception is planned for Friday, October 27, 2017, at 3:00 p.m., at Wenatchee Foothills Foursquare Church, 315 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA. Donations can be made to the Salvation Army in memory of Clyde. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.