Clyde Allen Paulson

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Clyde Allen Paulson, 81, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died unexpectedly Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, at Central Washington Hospital.

He was born March 21, 1936, in Jamestown, N.D., to Martin Helic Paulson and Josephine Neva. Clyde’s father passed away after returning from World War II 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. The family moved following logging camps and at age 14, Clyde, who did not want to move any more, 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, living 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. Clyde 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. Clyde 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. Clyde traveled the country extensively, teaching classes and retired after 42 ½ years of service as a Sergeant Major in 1996, the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer.

During this time, he was also a logger, fished North River and partnered with Gordy Neva, renting cabins to fishermen. He also worked and sold Bridgestone motorcycles with Jerry Fettis and owned a dress shop, The Mod Shop, with his late wife, Dorothy Paulson, whom he married in December of 1964. He was a terrific dad to Dorothy’s daughters, Charolette and Karen.  Clyde loved his family and spending time with all his grandchildren. During these years, he also played softball, hunted every year with his buddies, raced motorcycles and helped build the Pacific Crest Trail.

After his wife, Dorothy passed away, he attended his 50th class reunion, where he met the girl he walked down the aisle with during high school graduation, Eva Sandvig and they were married in April, 2005. Clyde gradually moved over the mountains and bought a home in East Wenatchee, where he would build a large garage to house his hobbies. He kept busy improving his property and raising vegetable and flowers. He enjoyed teaching the SAIL exercise class for seniors and especially, enjoyed keeping in contact with his cousins, aunts and uncles 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. Clyde was very generous with his resources and time, always helping someone build, fix or create something.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Connie; and brother, Don.

Clyde is survived by his wife, Eva Paulson; daughters, Charolette (Dean) Brown of New Mexico and Karen (Denny) Cothren of Centralia; grandchildren, Christy Cothren, Becky Cothren and Jodi Johnson; great-grandchildren, Caitie Bailey, Cassie Cortez, Chase and Chance DeGuise, Michael and Jacob Newcomer, Taylor, Hailey and Carson Denaul; and great-great-grandchildren, William and Benjamin Bailey and Kayden, Alexia and Dylan Cortez. His East Wenatchee family includes, stepchildren, David Langlois, Sue Durr and Cindy Langlois; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.  He is also survived by nephew, Marty Martin of Eatonville.

Arrangements are under the direction of Telford’s Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee. A color guard funeral service will be held in the Forest Funeral Home Cemetery Chapel in Olympia, at 1 p.m.,  Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. A memorial service and reception is planned for Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at 3 p.m., at Wenatchee Foothills Foursquare Church.