(December 23, 1936 – July 12, 2023)
On July 12, 2023, Paul Pettijohn was called home to be with his Lord at the age of 86. Paul is survived by his children: son Robert Pettijohn, his wife Susan and their son Michael with fiancé Gissel; daughter Kelly Schronk, her daughter Kimberly and grandchildren Alexzandra and Karston; and stepdaughter Karen Maxwell, her husband Mark, their son Isaac, and son Alex with wife Alexandria and grandchildren Lillian, Gwyneth, and Saoirse; and brother Bill Pettijohn. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie and Roger Pettijohn; first wife Lady Jane Grisham; wife Sarah Ruth Pettijohn; along with brothers David, George, Roger, and Stanley.
Paul was born on November 23, 1936, in Comanche County, TX to R.W. and Marjorie Pettijohn. Part of an adventurous family that traveled between Texas, California, Washington State, and Oklahoma in his youth, Paul returned to Texas with the family in 1954 and made Texas his home. He graduated from Dublin High School in 1955, and then attended Tarleton Junior College, earning an Associate Business degree in 1957. He then attended North Texas State University, until he left college and joined the National Guard 36th Infantry in 1959.
In 1960, Paul married Lady Jane Grisham, living in Dublin Texas and working for Dick Harbin Gas Company. In the fall of 1962, Paul went to work for the State of Texas as a Game Warden, just months before his son Robert was born. May 1963 Paul was assigned to Coryell County as their first Game Warden, and Kelly was born in December of that same year.
1968 Paul left the State and moved to Dallas, working for Dallas Refrigeration Supply. Later that year, Paul and Jane divorced. November 1968 Paul married Ruth Parr and together they began a life-long commitment to serving the Lord in whatever way He led.
In 1972, Paul left Dallas and moved to Tyler TX where he started his own business, E-Tex AC. Paul and Ruth ran this business together until 1982 when they moved to Como TX. Following Como, Paul became the manager of the water and wastewater plant for a large subdivision in Rockwall TX. While there he also felt the call to become a home missionary. He worked with a passionate young Christian man named Kenny Andrews to start Lynne Street Baptist Church.
This drive to bring the Lord to the streets continued when Paul moved to Longview in 1998 and started Flamingo Park Baptist Church in the Flamingo Mobile Home Park. For the next 18 years, Paul served the Lord, working with people where they were – helping them to move from drugs and homelessness to housing and hope. The ministry evolved with the changing population, adjusting to the needs of the community.
In Paul’s own words from his memoir, “This was Ruth and Paul’s ministry until God said it is finished, July 3, 2016. He said for us to go home and be together without the strain of ministry. We came to Gatesville, by way of Dublin to enjoy our last days together.”
Even in retirement, Paul continued to touch lives and influence those he came in contact with. You couldn’t meet the man and not know how much he loved God and how committed he was to service.
A graveside service will be held Monday, July 17, 2023, at the Pettijohn Cemetery in Comanche County, TX. Those attending may meet at Harrell’s Funeral Home in Dublin at 11:00 am and follow the processional out to the graveside.
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