SOMERVILLE, Paul (1919-1995)

SOMERVILLE

Posted By: Von Stachon (email)
Date: 3/10/2007 at 22:27:44

OBITUARY

REV. PAUL SOMERVILLE

Funeral services for the Rev. Paul Somerville, 76 of Norman OK, were held Saturday, Dec. 30, 1995 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein, with the Rev. Thomas Stewart officiating. Interment was in Wyoming Cemetry, Wyoming, IA. He died Sunday, Dec. 24, 1995 in Norman following a lengthy illness.

The Rev. Paul Wesley Somerville was born April 17, 1919 in Nashua, Mont., to William and Rev. Florence E. Somerville. He married Lefa M. Pash Aug. 8, 1942 in Bourbounais, IL.

He graduated from Harlan High School in Iowa City in 1937. He then attended Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbounais, IL, and Drake University in Des Moines, IA, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Iowa. While in Iowa City, Paul ws pastor of the Nazarene church.

While serving as pastor of four churches in the Catskill Mountains in New York state, he attended Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, NJ.

His years of pastoral service totaled 53; 10 of which were spent as pastor of the Traer Methodist Church from 1948 to 1958.

From 1976 to 1984 he served as pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein.

In retirement he and Lefa moved to Oklahoma where he served as visitation minister of Sunnyside Methodist Church for eight years and of Franklin Methodist church for two years

The Rev. Somerville served the United Methodist Church in Iowa as a member of the Iowa Annual Conference for 37 years; he was a member of Masonic Lodge of Del City, OK, and the Del City Chapter of Rotary International.

Preceding him in death were his parents; one brother and a nephew.

He is survived by his wife, Lefa of Norman, OK; one daughter, Phyllis Somerville of New York City, NY; three sons and their wives, Paul and Debbie Somerville of Moore, OK, Bruce Somerville and Irene Horowitz of NJ and Dr. Stephen and Cameron Somerville of TX; five grandchildren and one brother and his wife, Morris and Grace Somerville of Onslow, IA.