Jaames Paulding

PAULDING, AGAN, MOODY

Posted By: David L. Skipton (email)
Date: 12/29/2010 at 00:26:18

Source: The Columbus Gazette

James Paulding, 100, of Conesville, died Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Funeral services for James will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at the Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Columbus Junction. Pastor Ramona Wink will officiate. Burial will be in the Indian Creek Cemetery. Casketbearers will be Paul Goldstein, David Goldstein, Stephen Paulding, Andy Wink, Kenny Goldstein, and Jeff Bolten. Following the services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Columbus Junction American Legion. Visitation for James was held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. Memorials may be directed to the James and Thelma Paulding Educational Endowment for the Elemental Library in memory of James. Sympathy notes may be left to the Paulding family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Jim Paulding was born in the little town of Hootie, Illinois, on April 23, 1909. It was cold that April so they wrapped him in blankets and put him in a little box behind the cook stove. When Jim was two, his family moved to Hamilton, Iowa where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Jim’s Dad was a coal miner and Jim worked in the mines with his dad for two years. He then went to John Fletcher College in Oskaloosa, Iowa and became an ordained Methodist Minister. Although Jim preached in many small churches in rural Iowa he found his true calling when he started teaching school in Marysville, Iowa. Jim taught for many years and then attended Drake University to get his Masters Degree in Education. He served as superintendent and principal in many different schools. His last schools were in Cotter, Conesville and Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Jim met the love of his life, Thelma Agan, when her family moved in across the alley from his parent’s home in Hamilton. They were married for seventy-four years. Jim and Thelma loved their home on the Cedar River. They enjoyed fishing, golf, winters in Hot Springs, and most of all their family.

Jim had the most wonderful smile in the world and when he flashed that smile it always looked like he had something up his sleeve. He was a marvelous storyteller and he always had a lot of fun and enjoyed life right up to the end. We will miss his smile, his joyful spirit and his love.

Jim is survived by his three children, Jim Paulding and wife Helga in Parker, Colorado, Barbara and husband Kirk Moody of Russell, Iowa and Tom Paulding and wife Mary Frances of Hillsboro, Illinois, seven grandchildren, Stephen Paulding, Jolein Harro, Britta Boquet, Paul Goldstein, David Goldstein, Beth Burgmeyer and Ramona Wink; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson, many nieces and nephews and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Thelma, two brothers and three sister.